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.
Quick Answer
X-Flight is a B&M Wing Coaster at Six Flags Great America with a 120-foot lift, 55 mph top speed, and 5 inversions. Riders must be at least 52 inches tall (max 78 inches) and are secured with over-the-shoulder restraints. Its signature feature is the keyhole flythrough, where the train narrowly threads a gap in an air traffic control tower prop.
Height Requirement, Restraints & Who Can Ride
X-Flight’s minimum height requirement is 52 inches (132 cm), lowered from the original 54-inch minimum in 2024, with a maximum rider height of 78 inches (198 cm). Six Flags Great America rates it a Thrill Level 5, its highest intensity category, due to the inversions and exposed wing seating.
Because riders sit in pairs beside the track rather than in an enclosed car, X-Flight uses individual over-the-shoulder restraints similar to those on Superman: Ultimate Flight. There’s no floor beneath riders’ feet once the train leaves the station, which is part of what makes the wing-coaster design feel so exposed compared to a standard inverted or sit-down coaster.
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 full circuit runs about 3,000 feet and lasts roughly 1 minute 15 seconds, which is short but dense with airtime moments and rapid direction changes. Reviewers consistently note how smooth the B&M trains run through the course, with several calling it one of the smoothest coasters in the park despite the intensity of its inversions.
The Keyhole Element, Explained
X-Flight’s most talked-about moment is its keyhole flythrough, where the train performs a roll and threads a narrow gap in a purpose-built air traffic control tower prop moments before the ride’s finale. Because riders’ legs dangle in the open air with no floor or car body around them, the near-miss timing feels far more dramatic than it would on an enclosed coaster.
Combined with the exposed wing seating, the keyhole element has made X-Flight one of the park’s most photographed and discussed attractions since it debuted in 2012, and it remains the ride’s defining visual signature in ride videos and park marketing.
X-Flight vs. Wild Eagle: How the Two Wing Coasters Compare
X-Flight and Wild Eagle at Dollywood both opened in 2012 as B&M’s first two wing coasters in North America, and enthusiasts still debate which is better. X-Flight was announced first, in September 2011, but Wild Eagle opened a few weeks earlier, giving it the title of the first wing coaster to operate in North America.
The two rides take different approaches: Wild Eagle leans into a scenic, elevated first drop and an eagle-themed train design, while X-Flight leans into a more aggressive, effects-driven layout capped by the keyhole flythrough. Both are widely rated as excellent by the enthusiast community, so the choice often comes down to whether riders prefer Wild Eagle’s dramatic scenery or X-Flight’s tighter, more intense pacing.
Design, Cost & 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 is 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 and sits in the park’s County Fair section, close to several of Great America’s other marquee coasters.
Planning Your Visit
X-Flight operates during Six Flags Great America’s regular operating season, with hours that vary by day and time of year, so it’s worth checking the schedule before you go. Six Flags sells single-day tickets, season passes, and Fast Lane skip-the-line upgrades, all of which can affect how much time you spend waiting for high-demand rides like X-Flight.
For current hours, ticket prices, parking rates, and any scheduled ride closures, check the official Six Flags Great America website, which also has a dedicated page for X-Flight’s live ride status and stats.
X-Flight wing coaster 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.
What is the height requirement for X-Flight?
Riders must be at least 52 inches (132 cm) tall, with a maximum height of 78 inches (198 cm). The minimum was lowered from 54 inches in 2024.
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.
Is X-Flight scarier than a normal roller coaster?
Many riders find it more intense than an enclosed coaster because there’s no floor or car body around your legs, and the wing seating makes the drops and inversions feel more exposed even though the restraints function like a standard over-the-shoulder harness.
How does X-Flight compare to Wild Eagle at Dollywood?
Both are B&M wing coasters that opened in 2012. Wild Eagle opened first and is known for its scenic elevated drop, while X-Flight is known for its tighter, effects-driven layout and the keyhole flythrough near the air traffic control tower.
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