Superman: Ultimate Flight is a steel flying roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. It opened to the public on April 17, 2003, becoming the second of three nearly identical B&M flying coasters to debut in the United States, following an original version at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2002 and preceding one at Six Flags Great America later that same year.
The ride reimagines the traditional coaster layout by locking riders into a face-down, flying position rather than a standard seated one, simulating the sensation of flight alongside the Man of Steel himself. Its centerpiece is a 78-foot-tall pretzel loop, an element that debuted with this coaster family and remains one of the most recognizable inversions in the flying coaster genre.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Great Adventure
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Opened: April 17, 2003
- Height: 106 feet
- Top speed: 51 mph
- Length: 2,759 feet
- Inversions: 2 (pretzel loop and in-line twist)
The Ride Experience
Riders board Superman: Ultimate Flight seated, much like on any conventional coaster, before their seats are rotated into a horizontal, face-down flying position ahead of the launch out of the station. Suspended by an over-the-shoulder harness, riders face the ground for nearly the entire ride, an orientation that dramatically changes the perception of speed and height compared to seated coasters with similar stats.
After climbing the 106-foot lift hill, the train descends a 100-foot first drop and flies through the signature 78-foot pretzel loop, a tightly wound inversion designed specifically for the flying position. The layout continues through a horseshoe turn and an in-line twist before returning to the station, with the full circuit taking a little over two minutes.
Design and Legacy
Superman: Ultimate Flight belongs to a trio of near-identical B&M flying coasters built for Six Flags parks in 2002 and 2003, all sharing the same yellow track, blue supports, and pretzel loop centerpiece. A fourth, larger clone called Crystal Wing later opened in Beijing in 2006. The Great Adventure installation seats two eight-car trains per cycle, one fewer train than its Georgia counterpart, and in 2019 its rails were repainted red to distinguish it visually from its sister rides.
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Superman: Ultimate Flight FAQs
What company manufactured Superman: Ultimate Flight?
It was built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss firm known for pioneering the flying coaster format.
How fast does Superman: Ultimate Flight go?
The coaster reaches a top speed of about 51 mph during its 100-foot first drop.
Are there other versions of this coaster at different Six Flags parks?
Yes, nearly identical B&M flying coasters also operate at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great America, both opened around the same time in the early 2000s.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.