Firebird is a phoenix-themed floorless roller coaster at Six Flags America, located in the Chesapeake section of the park. It opened to the public on May 17, 2019.
The ride is a "floorless conversion" and re-theme of Apocalypse, which operated at the park from 2012 to 2018. Before that, the ride located at Six Flags Great America and was known as Iron Wolf from 1992 to 2011.
It is currently the first and only floorless coaster in the state of Maryland[1], and the first and so far only stand-up coaster ever to be converted to a floorless coaster in a Six Flags theme park.
History[]
Firebird was officially announced on August 30, 2018.[2] On May 6, 2019, Six Flags formally announced via a press release that Firebird would open to the general public on May 17.
Ride experience[]
After departing the station, the train makes an 180-degree turn, leading into the 100-foot chain lift. Once at the top, the train goes through a pre-drop before making a sharp left-hand turn leading into a nine-story first drop. Once the train is at the bottom of the first drop, it immediately goes through its first inversion, a vertical loop, followed by an upward right turn and then a left turn back down to the ground. The train continues to go left, before going through an upward helix. After, the train makes a downward right s-bend leading into the second and final inversion, a corkscrew. As the train passes through the corkscrew, a small volcano shoots out fire, causing a wave of heat to go out. The train makes a left turn back up before going through another s-bend, small over-banked turn which leads to the brake run.
Characteristics[]
Trains[]
Conceptual art for Firebird's floorless trains.
Firebird's trains were specially designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, who manufactured the track for Firebird all the way back when it was known as Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America in 1990. On the track, they get speeds of up to 56 mph.[3]
Trivia[]
- Firebird is the first and only floorless coaster in the state of Maryland.
- Firebird was the first stand-up coaster at a Six Flags park to receive new trains and be converted into a floorless coaster.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Photos[]
References[]
- ↑ Six Flags America (May 6, 2019). Maryland's First Floorless Coaster Debuts at Six Flags America (Press release). Business Wire.
- ↑ Maake, Katishi (August 30, 2018). Floorless roller coaster coming to Six Flags America. Washington Business Journal. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018.
- ↑ Domen, John (May 16, 2019). Gaaahhhh! Six Flags’ Firebird roller coaster has helixes, loops — and, yes, fire. Prince George's County, MD News. Washington's Top News.
External links[]
- Firebird - Six Flags America at Six Flags
Firebird at Coasterpedia- Firebird at the Roller Coaster DataBase
- Firebird (roller coaster) at Wikipedia
