Superman: Ultimate Flight - Review

Superman: Ultimate Flight was the third B&M; Flying coaster to open, and the second to take the Superman Ultimate Flight name. This version features an almost identical layout to the one at Six Flags Over Georgia; with the main difference being the one here has one station and only operates two trains.

Riders board the train in a similar way to which they would on an Inverted Coaster, i.e., in a seated position. The restraints consist of an overhead shoulder restraint complete with a life vest type support and ankle restraints, which leave the rider fully secured in a comfortable position. Just before the train departs, the seats recline backwards to leave riders in the flying position, for which they remain throughout most of the ride.

The ride begins with a left-hand turn out of the station and onto the 115-foot lifthill. There then follows a 100-foot drop that starts turning 90 degrees to the right about halfway down. The bottom of the drop runs close to the ground before it rises back up into the first inversion - a Pretzel Loop.

The Pretzel Loop consists of two large half loops that form the shape of a pretzel or heart, the train travels down the first half loop in the flying position, to enter a trench in the upright position, and climb back up into the next half loop and end up back in the flying position. This is easily the best and only intense part of the ride as produces some good positive g-forces.

After the Pretzel Loop, the train takes a left-hand downward spiral through the center of the Pretzel Loop, and ends up flying close above the ground again. It then rises up into a right-hand Horseshoe, before turning back and doing a similar left-hand banked turnaround, followed by a right-hand helix. The train then completes an inline twist before reaching the brakes and slowly returning back to the station.

The ride is quite short, but very smooth and comfortable throughout, except the sometimes long wait on the block brakes before returning to the station, which leaves you hanging in the flying position; not nice if the train gets stuck. As the ride is new it is very popular and the lines are long, hence I only had chance for one ride, which I took in the back seat. The whole ride is an enjoyable experience, but with the exception of the Pretzel Loop it is very tame and non-intense, which will suit a lot of people, but I think I prefer the Vekoma Flyers as I find them more thrilling.