Maxx Force is a launched steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, that opened on July 4, 2019. Built by S&S – Sansei Technologies and designed by Joe Draves, it replaced the Pictorium, the park’s longtime IMAX theater, and introduced a drag-racing theme to the Carousel Plaza area of the park.
The ride is best known for its compressed-air launch system, which fires trains from 0 to 78 mph in just 1.8 seconds, a figure marketed as the fastest acceleration of any launched coaster in North America. Riders then race through a compact but intense layout packed with four inversions, including a signature dive loop, before returning to the station in about 23 seconds.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois)
- Manufacturer: S&S – Sansei Technologies
- Opened: July 4, 2019
- Height: 175 ft (53 m)
- Top speed: 78 mph (126 km/h)
- Length: 1,800 ft (550 m)
- Inversions: 4
The Ride Experience
Riders board one of two 16-passenger trains and are launched by a compressed-air system that reaches highway speeds in under two seconds, a sensation closer to a drag strip than a traditional coaster’s chain lift. From there the layout twists through elements including a heartline roll and a steeply banked dive loop, packing four inversions into a ride that lasts roughly 23 seconds.
Because of its abrupt launch, Maxx Force uses lap bars combined with seatbelts and shin guards rather than the over-the-shoulder restraints common on other launch coasters, keeping the focus on speed rather than airtime.
Design and Records
At its 2019 debut, Six Flags promoted Maxx Force as having the fastest acceleration of any launch coaster in North America and the fastest inversion of any coaster in the world at roughly 60 mph. The ride cost approximately $15 million and stands where the park’s Pictorium IMAX theater once operated before its 2018 closure and demolition.
The coaster underwent noise-mitigation adjustments after its debut season to address community concerns about the sound of its air-launch system, and it has continued operating as one of Great America’s headline attractions in the years since.
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Maxx Force FAQs
How fast does Maxx Force go?
Maxx Force reaches a top speed of 78 mph (126 km/h), launched from 0 mph in just 1.8 seconds using a compressed-air launch system.
How many inversions does Maxx Force have?
Maxx Force features four inversions, including a heartline roll and a steep dive loop, packed into a ride lasting about 23 seconds.
What replaced by Maxx Force at Six Flags Great America?
Maxx Force was built on the site of the Pictorium, the park’s longtime IMAX theater, which closed in 2018 to make way for the coaster.
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Photo: Plighting Engineerd / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.