Record-breaking roller coaster will travel more than 155 miles per hour

[brooklynite]

CNN

(CNN) — A roller coaster now under development in the Middle East is set to smash existing records for speed, height and track length.

Called "Falcon's Flight," the ride will be the main attraction of Six Flags Qiddiya, due to open in Saudi Arabia outside of capital Riyadh in 2023.

According to a press release issued by the Qiddiya Investment Company, which has partnered with US-headquartered Six Flags to build the park, the coaster will travel across four kilometers (about 2.5 miles) of track.

Riders will experience the thrill of diving over a vertical cliff into a 160-meter-deep valley (525 feet) thanks to the use of magnetic motor acceleration (LSM technology), and "achieve unprecedented speeds of 250-plus km/h" -- about 155 miles per hour.

"The Falcon's Flight will also be the world's tallest free-standing coaster structure, featuring a parabolic airtime hill allowing a weightlessness airtime experience," says the release.

[LeftInTX]

1. Well I'm glad it's not in the US! One less thing to worry about

[JHB]

2. Not being a roller coaster fan, much less and extreme roller coaster fan, ...

...hard pass.

And Riyadh's not all that high on the "must visit" place list, either.

[Roland99]

3. I hope there's a form of windscreen on the vehicle!

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Oh HELL NO! n/t

[Ilsa]

5. I wonder how easy it would be to wear a burka on one?

Unless you tie it down, wouldn't it be all over the place?

[Marie Marie]

6. Nope. That is all.

[Bleacher Creature]

7. Hard pass. NT

[jmowreader]

8. What's the Arabic translation of "verruckt"?

We've heard this tune before, but last time it was a water slide in Wisconsin.

[Tree-Hugger]

9. No.

Nope.

[Journeyman]

10. I was at Knott's in California a few years back when it was 113. Half the rides were shut down. . .

because it was too hot for them to operate, and the most of the rest were far too hot to touch.

I can't imagine what an experience an amusement park in Riyadh will be like.

[Volaris]

11. Dammit, now I have an excuse to go to SA lol.

Coaster fan.
Like the BIG ones.
That this will exist, kinda makes me happy today.

'Well see, we got that giant-assed canyon right there in the middle of where we want the track to go...'

'Fuck em. Drop em over the side. They'll THANK US for it later.'

[MuseRider]

12. OH my I would fight for the first seat!

I LOVE coasters. There are a couple of good ones close at KC's Worlds of Fun but we took a trip to Cedar Point about 7 years ago and I was in heaven. I also remember The Hulk at the Universal Studios park. There were some wonderful rides in those trips but NOTHING like this. I would do it in a heartbeat. Of course at my age now I wonder if they would let me. You hardly ever see a lot of older people standing in lines to ride, they are usually watching the littles while the parents go to ride. I love coasters and thrill rides, always have. So glad I have two son's since my husband was game but not so much anymore. I would be just fine if I took my last breath going down one of those drops.

[Skittles]

13. me too

I'd do it

[MuseRider]

14. In a heart beat!

[canetoad]

15. There's not a lot on the ground at Six Flags, Qiddiya.

Looks pretty much like a desert to me on Google Earth in October 2020. (24°33'4.33"N - 46°17'21.61"E)

This, however, was posted on YouTube, August 2019.

[Rstrstx]

16. Is this another Jeddah Tower?

Whatever, kudos to Saudi Arabia for trying to figure out how to diversify ahead of the upcoming phaseout of oil; tourism is worth a try but given their draconian laws and how extremely well-positioned the UAE is right now they’ve got their work cut out for them. Is the climate better in Qiddiya?

The coaster looks awesome by the way, I think Intamin also designed the current speed champion in Abu Dhabi.