Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Viper


caption=
location=Six Flags Magic Mountain
section=Baja Ridge
type=Steel
status=Open
opened=April 7, 1990
manufacturer=Arrow Dynamics
designer=Arrow Dynamics
model=Custom Looping Coaster
track=steel
lift=Chain lift hill
height=188
drop=171
length=3830
speed=70
inversions=7
duration=2:30
angle=50
capacity=1,700
cost=$8,000,000 USD
acceleration=
gforce=4.1
restriction=54
rcdb_number=25

Viper is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of the United States. The coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.

Of the three Arrow Mega-Loopers (the others being Shockwave at Six Flags Great America, now replaced by Superman: Ultimate Flight) and Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure), coaster enthusiasts prefer this one the most. Viper got a new paint job for the 2008 season; bright red track and repainting of the white supports. Fact|date=September 2007

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 Kennywood in May 1991, which had a top speed of 80 mph.

Viper features the world's highest 360-degree loop—maxing out at 144 feet above ground.

Viper still remained the tallest looping coaster in the world, but when the Steel Phantom was modified in 2001 where it lost its inversions, Viper reheld the title of fastest multi-looper in the world joint with the new at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, both with a top speed of 70 mph.

It was only until Storm Runner opened in 2004 at Hersheypark, with a top speed of 75 mph that Viper once again lost the title of fastest multi-looping coaster. Viper however, is taller than both Storm Runner (150 feet) and Superman Krypton Coaster (168 feet) with a height of 188 feet, which then made it just the tallest multi-looper in the world.

Drawbacks

Although its status as the park's most extreme ride has been usurped by several new coasters, Viper's seven inversions still thrill parkgoers. There are, however, a couple of drawbacks. Differing from most Arrow roller coasters, the shoulder restraints have large metal handles. This results as a tendency to rattle the heads and necks of its riders, resulting in painful headaches. The restraints cause shorter people to bang their heads on the handles as well. However recently the ride has been repainted and many riders are saying the ride has gotton noticably smoother. Dubious|date=March 2008

External links

* [http://www.sixflags.com/parks/magicmountain/Rides/Viper.html Viper at the official Six Flags Magic Mountain website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1izstI-vCyg Youtube POV of Viper]