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Superman: Ride of Steel
Superman: Ride of Steel {#1 Steel}


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Facts about Superman: Ride of Steel
  • Located: Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA
  • Type: Steel
  • Status: Operating
  • Opened: May 5, 2000
  • Manufacturer: Intamin AG
  • Designer: Werner Stengel
  • Model: Megacoaster
  • Track layout: Out & Back and Twister
  • Lift/launch system: Chain lift hill
  • Drop: 221 ft (67 m)
    		•
  • Height: 208 ft (63 m)
  • Length: 5,400 ft (1,600 m)
  • Max speed: 77 mph (34.4 m/s)
  • Duration: 2:35 minutes
  • Max vertical angle: 72°
  • Capacity: 1300 riders per hour
  • Cost: $36,000,000 USD
  • Max g-force: 3
  • Height restriction: 4 ft 6 in (1.4m)
    		•

    Description of Superman: Ride of Steel:
    Ever since Six Flags New England installed this mega coaster it has received rave reviews from roller coaster fans and consistently ranks as one of the world's top steel coasters. Superman Ride of Steel designed and built by Intamin AG is a 5,400-foot long, two and half minute roller coaster ride. The experience begins when you board one of the nine car trains and climb the 208-foot tall lift hill. Like the man of steel himself, the Superman roller coaster takes flight as it freefalls down the 221-foot first drop at a fearsome 70-degree angle. Reaching a top speed of 77 mph, the train rides smoothly along the tubular steel track layout that is full of impressive moments of airtime and two tunnels. With a ride experience like this, it's no wonder that Superman Ride of Steel is Six Flags New England's most popular roller coaster.
    Experience on Superman: Ride of Steel:
    This coaster raises 208 feet and drops 221 feet. At the bottom of the first hill, the train enters an underground, fog-enshrouded tunnel. Incredibly disorienting, it is among the ride's best features. As the train leaves the tunnel to ascend the second hill, Superman delivers its first dose of delirious airtime. The coaster is an airtime-lover's dream. Even after the train turns around and heads back towards the station, Superman never lets up. It's one of those rare coasters that positively screams until it hits the magnetic brakes at its conclusion. A series of camelback hills keeps the major airtime coming. The track then snakes in and around the park's DC Superheroes area before it dives into a second fog-filled tunnel. A couple of smaller bunny hills offer yet more airtime. A final banked helix sends Superman's riders flying into the station. The returning passengers invariably look elated and sport frozen grins born from equal parts of terror and joy. And that, my thrill-seeking friends, is the very essence of a great roller coaster experience. There are similar Superman: Ride of Steel coasters at Six Flags Darien Lake in New York and Six Flags America in Maryland. While they are wonderful rides, everything about the New England version--the track layout, how the track integrates with the surrounding park, the airtime, the smooth ride, the relentless speed--is better. It's just an incredible coaster achievement.
    Accidents on Superman: Ride of Steel:
    In 2001, one of the trains failed to stop at the ride's ending due to a severe brake leak, colliding with the other train in the loading station. 22 people were injured. In 2004, a man was thrown from his seat during the last turn of the ride and was killed. The cause of this accident was due to (1) the girth of the victim, (2) pre-existing medical condition, (3) varied seat belt sizes, and (4) failure of the ride attendant to recognize that the lapbar was inadequately applied. As a result of this incident, the park enhanced each lapbar with a component that rests on the outside of the rider's legs, shin cuffs, and a qualitative method to verify that the lapbar is in an effective position. The park also replaced the manufacturer-issued seatbelts with another consistently-sized type.

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