I went to SFWOA today with some friends and got my taste of SF. For starters I cut too X-FLight.
Only 1 train. I did notice that the upstop wheels when going up the lift were not touching the bottom of the track. There was not a big gap but they were not touching, like on all B&M's or Intamins. Also I noticed that on your shoulder harness (which is nothing as bad as arrows) there was the Vekoma logo, also it was on the back side of the trains before you see them recline. Now too the ride. It was smooth, and no doubt a great sensation of flying over the land and people. You don't get that on Raptor or Mantis or Millennium Force. However, too me it seemed as if there were only a few spots of really intense flying. Not as intense as raptor. The double helix on Raptor is far better then X-flights. Raptor is nonstop, X-flight kinda let up in spots too me. Not that is was bad, it was not, but overall I think the best sensation I got out of it was being flipped from looking at the sky to looking at the ground. There is nothing under you looking at the ground, Just hanging there in your harness. It seems as if you could fall out easily. The loop was probably the most Intense. However after reading all the reports I was expecting something KICK butt, and well leaving me dizzy. It really didn't do that too me. Raptor still leaves me more dizzy then X-Flight. It is not a bad ride at all but I don't think a must ride all day ride, best ride out there either. I only rode it once in the middle of the train. I would have liked to done it more but I was with a bunch of friends who didn't want coasters all day. I rate Raptor, MF, Mantis, better rides. The ride ops were not that bad, they were moving about as fast as they could given the circumstances. Only one train and reclining in the station. But I am lead to think that this ride will not be a high capacity ride. I may be wrong. The ground is still a mess. Mud below the ride as no theming has taken place. I think if there was one thing I could change in the design of the ride it would be the following: When your in the seats your legs are bent almost like they are when your sitting. Instead I would rather them be perfectly straight, to create a more flying sensation. Well that is just my take on it, again I rode it only once and if I go back and ride again I might think different but that is basically what I got out of it.
The bad news is Villain was not that good. I rode twice and both rides were not the smoothest. Not as bad as mean streak but not as good as blue streak. The airtime I loved from last year was gone (or at least a lot less of it), the track needed grease, and the cars were squealing like MS. I was mad that SF is not taking care of that ride. I see they don't know that they have a CCI on their hands. BKF was great, 2 super rides one in the front and one in the back. (I did notice no themeing at BKF under the two interlocking corkscrews the same way it was as last year...go figure)
Superman perfect just like last year. Great ride second row from the front, I forgot how awesome that was!!!!
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From all reports I've read so far, everyone that
had a ''kick butt'' ride rode in or towards the extreme front or back of the train. I see you
rode the middle...
And, I know it's your opinion, but you *really*
think Raptor is intense?
{Checks user's info}
Oh, ok, nevermind...you haven't ridden another B&M Invert yet. You're excused. ;)
True Rob, I should get on another B&M invert. I think Raptor is more intense then X-flight. (34 flights in 1 day). And I am comparing my rides in the middle of raptor to the middle of X-flight. Again Raptor just doesn't let up, where as X-flight did, too me anyway. Again X-flight is not a bad ride by any means. And the back or front on X-Flight are sure to give different rides.
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"Welcome to Millennium Force"
What!?!? Hooper mentioned something about Raptor? ;)
I rode X-Flight in the last row, and it BLEW RAPTOR AWAY. You really need the back for the extreme G'S in the loop and helix.
Also, I didn't think anything was wrong with Villain. I rode on Friday night, and while there was slight squealing, I still thought it was a world-class CCI gem.
Mongoose said "you really need the back for extreme G'S in the loop and helix"
I cannot agree more Mongoose. The back is really intense; way more intense than the middle. My brother had shoulder surgery 6 months ago and only the back hurt his shoulder but he could handle the middle.
Next time I go back I will ride X-Flight in the far back for sure. And about Villain that is why I rode it twice, I was in shock. It was not a back killer, spleen injuring ride but it was no smooth airtime hog either. All my friends said it was not that smooth. I could not argue.
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"Welcome to Millennium Force"
