In a photo construction update posted to ThemeParX back in January we got to see the progress that had been made on Falcon’s Flight including the GCI Colossus wooden roller coaster and the Vekoma tilt coaster, Iron Rattler.
In a video posted online on December 12 we got to see the Qiddiya City project including Six Flags Qiddiya which was said to be 59% completed ahead of a late 2024 opening. In the video, the latest construction progress on Falcon’s Flight can be seen and it certainly looks impressive so far.
At the IAAPA Expo in Orlando in November, 2023, Intamin officially revealed new details for the world’s first Exa roller coaster, Falcon’s Flight which is coming to Six Flags Qiddiya.
At the end of November, 2023, a video was posted on YouTube which shows the current construction progress for Falcon’s Flight at Six Flags Qiddiya. Actual footage of the park is currently still quite hard to come by so it is very interesting to see the latest developments.
Embedded below is the video released after the official revealing at the IAAPA Expo where we get to see exactly what Falcon’s Flight will offer guests and to say it is going to be breathtaking is an understatement.
Falcon’s Flight will be the world’s first Exa coaster, reaching the mind blowing height of 640ft. Original rumors led us to believe it would hit the heights of 540ft but to find out it is actually going to 100ft higher is unbelievable. Just take a moment for that to really sink in, 640ft.
Originally known as a “super coaster” we now know that Exa coaster is the name given to a roller coaster over 600ft. It seems somewhat ridiculous to be naming a 600ft+ height roller coaster when we haven’t even got a name for a 500ft+ roller coaster. These heights have certainly never been reached before…
Currently the world’s tallest roller coaster is Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure which stands at 139m or 456ft. Falcon’s Flight will be another 56m taller, standing at 195m or 640ft. As we know not only will Falcon’s Flight be the tallest roller coaster in the world by a huge amount but it will also be the fastest and the longest and will feature the biggest drop of any roller coaster in the world.
The top speed of Falcon’s Flight has now been released by Intamin as 250km/h or 155mph meaning it will take the world record from Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi which hits a top speed of 240km/h or 150mph.
Falcon’s Flight will also be the world’s longest roller coaster at 4250m, thus taking the record from The Steel Dragon 2000 located at Nagashima Spa Land amusement park in Mie Prefecture, Japan which measures 2,479m in length.
The video released by Intamin at the IAAPA event this week in Orlando looks absolutely amazing and shows a very smooth roller coaster gliding along the track. The highlight will surely be the drop off at the top of the cliff and then the unbelievable free standing airtime hill which is now expected to be 640ft and dominate the park.
The station will feature a dual loading station to aid with capacity and will be running 6 trains with 14 riders per train. The trains have a windscreen on the front which is essential for a roller coaster in the desert to protect riders from the sand. This means that safety googles will not be required.
The design of the train follows the theme and looks like a falcon. It will feature Intamin lap bars and have 16 inch running wheels. The trains are set to look amazing in the dark with their individually programmable 35 light modules which should look stunning.
The basic layout of Falcon’s Flight will will include three LSM launches. As the train comes out of the station riders will experience the first launch with the roller coaster twisting and turning with air time moments to get the train to the bottom of cliff where the second LSM launch will propel guests at 100mph up to the top of cliff bringing you very close to the ground before swooping round in preparation for biggest drop ever seen on a roller coaster.
On this vertical drop, guests will reach speeds of 155mph then through a tunnel into a further drop then the third and final launch will keep the roller coaster going at 155mph to get the train to the top of the tallest airtime hill which was rumored to be 513ft tall and is now expected to be an unbelievable height of 640ft. Riders are guaranteed floater airtime over the top, particularly if you are riding at the back.
The final section of Falcon’s Flight will see more twists and turns and further airtime moments before hitting the brake run. It will not feature any inversions. From the new off ride video footage you really get a clear idea of what guests can now look forward to when Falcon’s Flight opens at Six Flags Qiddiya…
