The Falcon Flight roller coaster is expected to reach a maximum speed of 251 km/h, running on a track length of 4.2 km and plunging down a steep drop of 195 m.
Falcon Flight, the fastest roller coaster in the world, will debut at the Six Flags Qiddiya amusement park, set to open in 2024, in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Interesting Engineering reported on November 20.
Simulation of the Falcon Flight roller coaster. (Video: Coaster101)
The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), in collaboration with Intamin Amusement Rides, began designing Falcon Flight in early 2022. At the 2023 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) expo in Orlando, USA, Intamin Amusement Rides unveiled more detailed information about the roller coaster, along with a model train car.
Falcon Flight is the first roller coaster of the Exa type (coasters that reach heights exceeding 183 m), and is expected to break multiple world records for roller coasters. The highest point of the track reaches 195 m, making Falcon Flight the tallest coaster, surpassing the record-holding Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in the USA, which stands at 139 m.
Falcon Flight will also be the longest roller coaster in the world, measuring 4.2 km, exceeding the Steel Dragon 2000 at Nagashima Spa Land in Japan, which is 2.4 km long. Additionally, this Exa roller coaster will have a maximum speed of 251 km/h, beating the Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, which has a top speed of 240 km/h, to claim the title of the fastest in the world.
According to information released at IAAPA, despite its high speed and steep drops, passengers will not need any safety equipment because each row of this 14-passenger train is equipped with protective windshields. The first car of the train is designed to resemble a falcon’s head and can accommodate two passengers. The subsequent cars can carry four passengers each.
Falcon Flight will also be the longest roller coaster in the world.
Falcon Flight will undergo several launches using linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology along the 4.2 km track, with the first launch designed to propel the train away from the station. Following that, the train will navigate through winding turns and reach the base of the cliff. At this point, the second LSM launch will accelerate the train to 160 km/h, taking riders to the top of the cliff. The train will make several loops at the top before preparing for the largest drop in roller coaster history.
The new train features ultra-large wheels with specially designed rims, providing superior cooling capabilities. This design addresses issues arising from high speeds and high temperatures in the Saudi Arabian desert. The train’s chassis is fully manufactured using machines with no welding. Moreover, the train will look impressive in the dark with 35 individually adjustable light modules.
