X-Flight is a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, that opened to the public on May 16, 2012. It was only the fourth wing coaster built anywhere in the world and the second in the United States, following Wild Eagle at Dollywood, marking a major addition to the park’s coaster lineup.
Riders sit in pairs on either side of the track with nothing above or below them, giving an exposed, wing-like sensation as the train banks through the course. The ride’s signature moment comes when trains thread through a custom-built air traffic control tower structure via a tight opening known as the keyhole element, creating a heart-stopping near-miss illusion.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Opened: May 16, 2012
- Height: 120 ft (37 m)
- Top speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
- Length: 3,000 ft (910 m)
- Inversions: 5
The Ride Experience
After climbing the 120-foot lift hill, X-Flight plunges into a beyond-vertical dive drop before racing through a series of inversions, including zero-g rolls, an Immelmann loop, and an inline twist. Because riders are seated to the side of the track rather than above or below it, the wing-coaster layout amplifies the feeling of flight through every twist and turn.
The ride’s most talked-about moment is its keyhole flythrough, where the train narrowly threads a gap in a purpose-built air traffic control tower prop. Combined with the exposed wing seating, the near-miss element has made X-Flight one of the park’s most photographed and discussed attractions since it debuted in 2012.
Design and Legacy
X-Flight cost an estimated $12 to $15 million and replaced the Splashwater Falls and Great American Raceway attractions at Six Flags Great America. Its announcement in September 2011 made it the first wing coaster formally announced for North America, even though Wild Eagle ultimately opened first.
The layout runs 3,000 feet with a 1-minute-15-second ride time, carried by two eight-car trains seating riders four across in a single row for 32 guests per train. More than a decade after opening, X-Flight remains a signature thrill ride in the park’s coaster collection.
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X-Flight FAQs
What type of roller coaster is X-Flight?
X-Flight is a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster, a design where riders sit in pairs on either side of the track with no seating above or below them.
How many inversions does X-Flight have?
X-Flight has 5 inversions, including a dive drop, zero-g rolls, an Immelmann loop, and an inline twist.
What is the keyhole element on X-Flight?
The keyhole is a signature moment where the train passes through a narrow opening in a custom-built air traffic control tower structure, creating a dramatic near-miss effect.
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Photo: Krugdm / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.