Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Encyclopedia
Viper is a steel roller coaster
made by Arrow Dynamics
of the United States
. The roller coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain
in Valencia
, California
.
Viper is the last of the three 7-looper roller coasters built by Arrow Dynamics
to remain operating. The other two, Shockwave
at Six Flags Great America
and the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure
, were demolished in 2002 and 2010, respectively.
in May 1991, which had a top speed of 80 miles per hour (35.8 m/s).
Viper would appear to almost beat the current record for world's tallest 360-degree loop at 140 feet (42.7 m). Technically though, it is a standard size loop of which the top is at 144 feet (43.9 m). Arrow Dynamics never changed the size of their vertical loops, only the height at which they start. The world record for the tallest vertical loop is currently held by Superman: Krypton Coaster
at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
in San Antonio, TX, which has a height of 145 feet (44.2 m)
Viper still remained the tallest looping coaster in the world, but when the Steel Phantom was modified in 2001 to become Phantom's Revenge
where it lost its inversions, Viper reheld the title of fastest multi-looper in the world joint with the new Superman Krypton Coaster
at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
, both with a top speed of 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s).
It was only until Storm Runner
opened in 2004 at Hersheypark
, with a top speed of 75 miles per hour (33.5 m/s) that Viper once again lost the title of fastest multi-looping coaster. Viper however, is taller than both Storm Runner (150 feet (45.7 m)) and Superman Krypton Coaster (168 feet (51.2 m)) with a height of 188 feet (57.3 m), which then made it just the tallest multi-looper in the world.
in the middle of this element. Riders then make a right turn and immediately enter the double-corkscrew, followed by flat track and two turns before hitting the final break run, then making a final turn before returning to the station.
(referred to in the movie as the "Vaper"). It was also used in the 1993 Christian Slater movie True Romance
and the 2000 movie Space Cowboys
. It was also used in a commercial for Toyota.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
made by Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The roller coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
in Valencia
Valencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Viper is the last of the three 7-looper roller coasters built by Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
to remain operating. The other two, Shockwave
Shockwave (Six Flags Great America)
Shockwave was a large roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois...
at Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
and the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
, were demolished in 2002 and 2010, respectively.
Record holding
When Viper opened in April 1990, it was the tallest and fastest looping coaster in the world, until the opening of the Steel Phantom roller coaster at KennywoodKennywood
Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway. The park was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood...
in May 1991, which had a top speed of 80 miles per hour (35.8 m/s).
Viper would appear to almost beat the current record for world's tallest 360-degree loop at 140 feet (42.7 m). Technically though, it is a standard size loop of which the top is at 144 feet (43.9 m). Arrow Dynamics never changed the size of their vertical loops, only the height at which they start. The world record for the tallest vertical loop is currently held by Superman: Krypton Coaster
Superman: Krypton Coaster
Superman: Krypton Coaster is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, TX. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, it is one of four floorless coasters to open in the year 2000...
at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land in San Antonio, Texas.Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600 acre master-planned development in northwest San Antonio...
in San Antonio, TX, which has a height of 145 feet (44.2 m)
Viper still remained the tallest looping coaster in the world, but when the Steel Phantom was modified in 2001 to become Phantom's Revenge
Phantom's Revenge
The Phantom's Revenge is a steel roller coaster at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.-Ride layout:Although the first hill is only 160 feet high, the second hill drops riders 232 feet into a ravine and through the support structure for Thunderbolt...
where it lost its inversions, Viper reheld the title of fastest multi-looper in the world joint with the new Superman Krypton Coaster
Superman: Krypton Coaster
Superman: Krypton Coaster is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, TX. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, it is one of four floorless coasters to open in the year 2000...
at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land in San Antonio, Texas.Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600 acre master-planned development in northwest San Antonio...
, both with a top speed of 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s).
It was only until Storm Runner
Storm Runner
Storm Runner is an Intamin steel launched roller coaster at Hersheypark. It was constructed in 2004 and was the third Intamin Accelerator Coaster. It reaches a height of 150 ft and catapults riders from 0 to 72 mph in 2 seconds. It features a top hat and three inversions, a dual...
opened in 2004 at Hersheypark
Hersheypark
Hersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
, with a top speed of 75 miles per hour (33.5 m/s) that Viper once again lost the title of fastest multi-looping coaster. Viper however, is taller than both Storm Runner (150 feet (45.7 m)) and Superman Krypton Coaster (168 feet (51.2 m)) with a height of 188 feet (57.3 m), which then made it just the tallest multi-looper in the world.
Ride Experience
Upon exiting the station, the train immediately begins climbing the 188 feet (57.3 m) lift hill. Upon reaching the top, the train curves into the 171 feet (52.1 m) drop, entering the 140 feet (42.7 m) tall vertical loop. The train then turns a sharp left, entering two vertical loops and then climbing into the mid-course break run, followed by a zig-zag into the batwing (two connected diving loops, each is a mirror image of the other). Riders are photographed by the on-ride cameraOn-ride camera
An on-ride camera is a camera mounted alongside the track of a roller coaster, log flume or other thrill ride that automatically photographs all of the riders on each passing vehicle. They are often mounted at the most intense or fastest part of the ride, resulting in humorously distorted...
in the middle of this element. Riders then make a right turn and immediately enter the double-corkscrew, followed by flat track and two turns before hitting the final break run, then making a final turn before returning to the station.
Cinema
Viper was used in the 1992 Brendan Fraser movie Encino ManEncino Man
Encino Man, released in Europe as California Man, is a 1992 comedy film directed by Les Mayfield and starring Brendan Fraser, Sean Astin and Pauly Shore. The plot revolves around two geeky teenagers from Encino, Los Angeles, California played by Astin and Shore, who discover a caveman in their...
(referred to in the movie as the "Vaper"). It was also used in the 1993 Christian Slater movie True Romance
True Romance
True Romance is a 1993 American romance crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette with an ensemble cast consisting of Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin...
and the 2000 movie Space Cowboys
Space Cowboys
Space Cowboys is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood also stars in the film alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner as four older "ex-test pilots" who are sent into space to repair an old Soviet satellite...
. It was also used in a commercial for Toyota.