Dragon Khan

Dragon Khan
The train is at the top of the biggest loop in this side view of Dragon Khan
Location PortAventura
Status Operating
Opened May 2, 1995
Type Steel
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel John Wardley
Model Sitting Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 148 ft (45 m)
Drop 161 ft (49 m)
Length 4,165 ft (1,269 m)
Max speed 67 mph (108 km/h)
Inversions 8
Duration 1:45
Dragon Khan at RCDB
Pictures of Dragon Khan at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

Dragon Khan is a steel sit-down roller coaster located in the PortAventura theme park in Salou, Catalonia, Spain. Dragon Khan boasts eight inversions; which was a world record until the opening of the ten-loop Colossus in Thorpe Park, United Kingdom in 2002.

The ride built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) opened on May 2, 1995 and was one of the two roller coasters that Port Aventura had when it opened. The track is red with white and pastel blue supports; the trains are green blue and purple (A third train is run at peak times only). After boarding the ride, riders climb to the top of the lift hill 148 ft high (45 m), before plummeting back down to earth and straight into a 118-foot-tall vertical loop (36 m), followed by a diving loop, a zero-G roll, and a cobra roll. Riders then get a short break at the ride's trim brakes before coming back down into a smaller vertical loop and then onto the last two inversions - the interlocking corkscrews. The ride then pulls up into the brake run before re-entering the Chinese-themed station. The track is 4,165 ft long (1,269 m), and the ride's top speed is over 65 mph (105 km/h). The ride's duration is 1 minute and 45 seconds. The ride, thus far, has more inversions than any other B&M coaster made before or after.

The ride has a total of three trains, each containing seven cars. Riders are arranged four across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.

The theme for this ride is based on Chinese mythology: the Dragon Khan was the reincarnated spirit of the evil Prince Hu of Beijing. His fury was unleashed each time a human dared to climb atop his back. This links in with the fact that the ride is located at the very back of the park in the Chinese themed area. Due to this ride's placement, it can be seen from anywhere inside the park, as well as from nearby hotels and the Reus airport.

See also

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Preceded by
Shockwave
First coaster with 8 inversions
May 1995–March 2002
Succeeded by
Colossus