X-Flight was a Vekoma Flying Dutchman roller coaster that opened at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (Geauga Lake) in Aurora, Ohio, on May 26, 2001. Billed as the Midwest’s first and only flying roller coaster, it stood out with neon green track and dark blue supports, and it flipped riders from a lying-down boarding position into a face-down “flying” orientation as the train crested the lift hill.
X-Flight ran at Geauga Lake, then moved to Kings Island as Firehawk. See where it fits on our Geauga Lake roller coaster history timeline and our Kings Island roller coaster history timeline.
Over its 3,340-foot circuit, X-Flight sent riders through five inversions, including a Vertical Loop, a Horseshoe, and two In-line Twists, reaching speeds of 50 mph and heights of 115 feet. After Cedar Fair acquired the park in 2004 and began scaling back its coaster lineup, X-Flight was dismantled following the 2006 season and relocated to Kings Island, where it reopened as Firehawk in 2007.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Geauga Lake (Six Flags Worlds of Adventure)
- Manufacturer: Vekoma (Flying Dutchman model)
- Opened: May 26, 2001
- Closed: 2006 season
- Height: 115 feet
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Length: 3,340 feet
- Inversions: 5
The Ride Experience
Riders boarded X-Flight lying face-up in reclined seats, a departure from any other coaster in the region at the time. As the train climbed the lift hill, the seats rotated forward so riders crested the top in a face-down, arms-out flying position, a sensation the Flying Dutchman model was specifically engineered to deliver.
From there, the layout carried riders through a 66-foot vertical loop, a horseshoe element, and two inline twists before the train rotated riders back to a seated position for the brake run. The ride was rated for a capacity of about 1,430 riders per hour.
Closure and Relocation to Kings Island
Cedar Fair’s 2004 purchase of Geauga Lake led to a steady thinning of the park’s ride collection over the following years as the company consolidated operations. X-Flight was among the coasters removed, closing for good after the 2006 season.
The ride’s steel structure and trains were shipped to Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, where it was reassembled with a new red-and-gray color scheme and reopened as Firehawk on May 26, 2007. Firehawk operated there until it was demolished following the 2018 season.
Explore more: Explore more legendary roller coasters.
X-Flight Photo Archive: May 2002
These are original ThrillZing photos of X-Flight taken at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure on May 4, 2002, its second season, restored and upscaled from the original camera files. They show the Vekoma Flying Dutchman’s lime-green track and navy supports, the station sign, riders in the lie-down position, and the ride at twilight. Click any photo for the full-size version.
Park apps, mobile ordering and photos kill a battery by 3 p.m. This one snaps on magnetically, so there's no cable to snag on a restraint.
Ride with your glasses on and keep them. Many parks allow glasses on rides if they're strapped, so check the ride rules first.
Small enough to ride with on most coasters, big enough for a phone, card and keys. Two zippers mean nothing falls out upside down.
X-Flight FAQs
Was X-Flight the first flying coaster in the Midwest?
Yes. When it opened at Geauga Lake in 2001, X-Flight was marketed as the first and only flying roller coaster in the Midwest region.
What happened to X-Flight after Geauga Lake closed?
X-Flight was removed after the 2006 season and relocated to Kings Island, where it reopened in 2007 as Firehawk before being demolished after the 2018 season.
What manufacturer built X-Flight?
Dutch manufacturer Vekoma built X-Flight as one of its Flying Dutchman model coasters.
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