Firebird (roller coaster)

Firebird is a floorless roller coaster located at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland.[1] The roller coaster had originally debuted in 1990 as a stand-up roller coaster named Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America. It was later relocated to Six Flags America in 2012 and renamed Apocalypse, under which it operated until 2018.[2]

Firebird
Previously known as Iron Wolf (1990–2011)
Apocalypse (2012–2018)
Six Flags America
Park sectionChesapeake
Coordinates38°54′30″N 76°46′26″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 7, 2012
ReplacedSkull Mountain
Six Flags Great America
NameIron Wolf
Park sectionCounty Fair
Coordinates42°21′58″N 87°55′52″W
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 28, 1990 (1990-04-28)
Closing dateSeptember 5, 2011 (2011-09-05)
ReplacedZ-Force
Replaced byGoliath
Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America at RCDB
General statistics
TypeSteel – Floorless Coaster
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelFloorless
Track layoutTwister
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height100 ft (30 m)
Drop90 ft (27 m)
Length2,900 ft (880 m)
Speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Inversions2
Duration2:00
Capacity1220 riders per hour
Height restriction54–76 in (137–193 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Firebird at RCDB

The roller coaster was the first to be built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard.[3] When known as Iron Wolf, the roller coaster briefly held world records among stand-up roller coasters for height (100-foot or 30-metre) and speed (55 miles per hour or 89 kilometres per hour) before being surpassed several years later.

History

Six Flags Great America (1990–2011)
Iron Wolf train inside a vertical loop

On April 28, 1990, Apocalypse opened as Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America on the former site of Z-Force (the only Intamin Space Diver ever manufactured).[4][5][6] It debuted in 1990 as the tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster in the world.[7][8][9] Its height record was surpassed in 1992 by Milky Way at Mitsui Greenland, which stands at 125 feet (38 m),[10] and its speed record was exceeded by Mantis at Cedar Point in 1996, which had a maximum speed of 60 mph (97 km/h).[11]

In 1994, Iron Wolf appeared in the movie Richie Rich as Richie's backyard roller coaster.[4][12]

On August 5, 2011, Six Flags Great America announced on their official Facebook page that the Iron Wolf would be closed on September 5, 2011: "After a long 21 year history at the park, we will be removing Iron Wolf. Make sure to get your last rides in – Iron Wolf’s Last Stand is September 5".[7][13][14] 'The Last Stand' is also a reference to the slogan afforded to Apocalypse.[15][16] Iron Wolf's former site would be taken over in 2014 by a custom RMC coaster, Goliath.

Apocalypse (2012–18)
Fire effects on Apocalypse

On August 22, 2011, Six Flags America announced on their Facebook page that they would be adding a new attraction in 2012.[17] From this day, the park began to slowly remove burnt pieces from an envelope each days leading up to the official announcement on September 1, 2011.[18] On September 1, 2011, Six Flags America announced that they would be adding Apocalypse in 2012.[19]

Iron Wolf closed on September 5, 2011,[7] and work began on preparing it for transport to its new location.[20] The new owners planned to add the roller coaster to the Skull Island section of their park, but before the relocation could take place, the Skull Mountain ride at Six Flags America had to be closed and demolished to make room for the new attraction.[21][22][23] Vertical construction of Apocalypse began in February 2012.[24] This continued until the end of March 2012 when the final piece of track was installed.[25]

The official Facebook page for Six Flags America had stated that the ride would officially open on May 25, 2012,[26] but this was later changed to June 7, 2012.[1][27]

Firebird (2019–present)

On August 16, 2018, the park announced on their social media platforms that Apocalypse would close on September 8, 2018.[2][28] On August 30, 2018, instead of being demolished or relocated, it was announced that Apocalypse would be converted into a floorless coaster and renamed Firebird for the 2019 season.[29] Firebird opened on May 3, 2019, to Six Flags members with a Platinum membership or higher. It opened to the public on May 17, 2019.[30]

Meanwhile, the former Apocalypse train was being donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum.[31]

Ride experience

After departing the station, the train makes a 180 degree turn leading to the 100-foot (30 m) chain lift hill. Once at the top, the train goes through a pre-drop before making a sharp left hand turn leading into the first drop. Once the train is at the bottom of the first drop, it immediately goes through the first of two inversions, a vertical loop. The train then makes an upward right turn before making a left turn back down to the ground. The train continues to go left before going through an upward helix. After, the train makes a downward right s-bend leading into the second and final inversion, a corkscrew. The train makes a left turn back up before going through another s-bend, small over-banked turn which leads to the brake run.[32][33] One cycle lasts about 2 minutes with riders reaching a top speed of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h).[1]

Trains

Firebird operates with two floorless trains. Each train has six rows with four each for a total of 24 riders per train.[1]

When the roller coaster was known as Iron Wolf, both trains featured the face of a wolf on the front of the train. After the ride was relocated to Six Flags America, the wolf was removed and the word "Apocalypse" replaced it.[34]

Track

The steel track is approximately 2,900 feet (880 m) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 100 feet (30 m). The first drop is 90 feet (27 m).[1] The track spine is painted orange and the rails red. The supports are dark gray.

When the coaster was known as Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America, the track was brown.

Theme

Between 1990 and 2011, when Apocalypse was known as Iron Wolf, there was no theme for the roller coaster. After its relocation to Six Flags America, to match the new name of the coaster, an end of the world apocalypse theme was added with fire, crashed planes and zombies located in the queue line and along the layout of the roller coaster.[35][36] As guests went further in the queue line to the end at the station, it mimicked an end of the world apocalypse scenario. The skull from Skull Mountain also serves as a backdrop to the ride.[35]

After being converted to Firebird, much of the Apocalypse theming has been removed. The fire effect is still used, however.

See also

References
  1. Marden, Duane. "Firebird  (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  2. Six Flags America (August 16, 2018). "Six Flags America is closing its Apocalypse stand-up roller coaster". Washington Top News. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  3. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  4. Marden, Duane. "Iron Wolf  (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  5. biZarRo (February 12, 2011). "The Significance of Bolliger & Mabillard". COASTER-Net. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  6. Marden, Duane. "Space Diver". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  7. "'Iron Wolf's last stand is Sept. 5'". Chicago Sun-Times. August 5, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  8. Six Flags Great America. "Iron Wolf". Six Flags. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  9. Yeager, Connie (March 25, 1990). "New roller coasters promise wilder rides". The Telegraph. p. 59. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Milky Way  (Mitsui Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Mantis  (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  12. "Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994) – Trivia". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  13. Six Flags Great America (August 5, 2011). "After a long 21..." Facebook. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  14. Coasterholic14 (August 6, 2011). "Six Flags Great America Losing Long-time Stand-Up Coaster". COASTER-Net. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  15. "Wall Photos". Six Flags Great America (Facebook). September 1, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  16. Moran, Dan (September 1, 2011). "New coaster coming to Gurnee Six Flags in 2012". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  17. Six Flags America (August 22, 2011). "This TOP SECRET envelope..." Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  18. "Six Flags America's Standing Orders for 2012". News Plus Notes. August 25, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  19. Six Flags America (September 1, 2011). "Maryland's..." Facebook. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  20. Barron, Christina (May 30, 2012). "Six Flags America previews its new coaster, Apocalypse". Washington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  21. Six Flags America (September 1, 2011). "Apocalypse". Six Flags. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  22. "Six Flags America Prepares Final Voyage For Skull Mountain". Six Flags America. June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  23. "Six Flags America prepares for final voyage of Skull Mountain to make way for 2012 attraction". Behind The Thrills. June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  24. Stevenson, John (February 28, 2012). "Apocalypse Vertical Construction Begins". Coaster101. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  25. SFAFans.com [@sfafans] (31 March 2012). "Apocalypse is complete!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. Six Flags America (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags America Announces Apocalypse". Six Flags. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  27. Six Flags America (June 7, 2012). "Six Flags America Unleashes Apocalypse". Six Flags. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  28. Six Flags America (August 16, 2018). "THE APOCALYPSE ENDS AT SIX FLAGS AMERICA". Six Flags. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  29. "Six Flags adds a 'floorless' roller coaster". 30 August 2018.
  30. Six Flags America (May 9, 2019). "Firebird Opening Weekend". Six Flags. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  31. "National Roller Coaster Museum Facebook post". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26.
  32. "Apocalypse HD POV Six Flags America". CoasterBandit3D (YouTube). June 2, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  33. "Apocalypse - The Last Stand (Coaster-Net)". Coaster-Net. December 17, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  34. "Iron Wolf Train". Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  35. "Maryland Six Flags Theme Park Opens First Stand-Up Roller Coaster". Ultimate Roller Coaster. June 7, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  36. "Apocalypse Roller Coaster POV Front Seat Six Flags America 2012". themeparkreviewtpr (YouTube). June 8, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
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