A new themed attraction in the Middle East will boast some of the most extreme roller coasters ever built. One called ‘Falcon’s Flight’ is set to smash several records once it is completed. The ride will be the main attraction of Six Flags Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia, due to open in 2023.
Built by Qiddiya Investment Company and US-headquartered Six Flags, the attraction will be housed outside of capital Riyadh. Once completed, ‘Falcon’s Flight’ is set to become the world’s longest, fastest, and tallest coaster.
According to details provided by the Qiddiya Investment Company, the ride will boast 4km of track. In terms of extreme roller coasters, ‘Falcon’s Flight’ does seem to tick the right boxes for thrill seekers.
The world’s tallest free-standing roller coaster will feature a vertical cliff dive manoeuvre into a 160m-deep valley. It will travel at speeds of over 250kmh and feature a parabolic airtime hill allowing for a weightlessness airtime experience.
‘Falcon’s Flight’ can accommodate 20 passengers at a time during its three-minute-long ride. The ride will be stationed at the City of Thrills at Six Flags Qiddiya. The section will also be home to Sirocco Tower, which will be the world’s tallest drop-tower ride.
Although it will take another two years for Six Flags Qiddiya to be built, there is no shortage of extreme roller coasters for thrill seekers to experience across the globe. Here are several that will get your pulse racing the moment you strap in.
The Formula Rossa, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
The bragging rights for the world’s fastest roller coaster go to this attraction housed in Dubai. The Formula Rossa stands at 52m tall with a length spanning 2000m. The ride takes place across a duration of 92 seconds, propelling guests up to 240kmh. Designed to mimic the experience of riding in a Formula One car, it tests the limits of endurance with 4.8gs in certain areas.
Takabisha, Fuji-Q Highland, Japan
Adrenaline junkies know that when it comes to extreme roller coasters, Fuji-Q Highland, Japan is the place to be. For those who want to test their resolve, consider the Takabisha, one of the steepest roller coasters in the world. The ride accelerates to speeds of 100kmh with a 43m drop and an insane 121-degree freefall.
Steel Dragon 2000, Nagashima Spa Land, Kuwana, Japan
Riding this monster of a ride will take some nerves of steel. That is because the Steel Dragon 2000 snakes around for 2.48 km. Across that length, it propels riders up to speeds over 150kmh with drops from 94m high. The entire mind-blowing experience takes place across four minutes.
Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
Standing 139m at its highest point, Kingda Ka is currently the tallest roller coaster around. Although it only takes over 50 seconds to ride it still packs in a lot of thrills. The hydraulic launch rocket coaster boasts speeds of just over 200kmh and features a 39m hump and a 270-degree spiral.