| Viper | |
| Location | Six Flags Magic Mountain |
|---|---|
| Park section | Baja Ridge |
| Type | Steel |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | April 7, 1990 |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Designer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Model | Custom Looping Coaster |
| Track layout | steel |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 188 ft (57 m) |
| Drop | 171 ft (52 m) |
| Length | 3,830 ft (1,170 m) |
| Max speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Inversions | 7 |
| Duration | 2:30 |
| Max vertical angle | 50° |
| Capacity | 1,700 riders per hour |
| Cost | $8,000,000 USD |
| Max G force | 4.1 |
| Height restriction | 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) |
| Viper at RCDB Pictures of Viper at RCDB |
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Viper is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of the United States. The roller 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), Viper is favored by coaster enthusiasts the most. Viper received a new coating of paint for the 2008 season.[citation needed]
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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 70 mph.
Viper held the record for world's highest 360-degree loop—maxing out at 140 feet above ground, but in 2000 it was passed by Superman Krypton Coaster, which has a 145 ft. loop .
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 Superman Krypton Coaster 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.
Movies
Viper was used in the 1992 Brendan Fraser movie Encino Man (referred to in the movie as the "Vaper"). It was also used in the 1993 Christian Slater movie True Romance and the 2000 movie Space Cowboys.
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 gotten noticeably smoother.[dubious ]
References
External links
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Coordinates: 34°25′15″N 118°35′43″W / 34.42083°N 118.59528°W
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