Inside world’s 'fastest & tallest' rollercoaster to be built with 156mph speed

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Falcon’s Flight is set to open at Six Flags Qiddiya next year (Image: @ThemeParkPredictions/YouTube)
Falcon’s Flight is set to open at Six Flags Qiddiya next year (Image: @ThemeParkPredictions/YouTube)

The world's tallest and fastest rollercoaster is set to be built and hopes to reach a speed of up to 156mph.

Falcon’s Flight is set to open at Six Flags Qiddiya next year in Saudi Arabia and will descend over a desert cliff. Falcon's Flight is the world's first "Exa Coaster", meaning over 600 feet and with a massive 640ft drop. The current record holder for height at 456ft is Kingda Ka, located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.

The new attraction will also be taller than the iconic London Eye and promises to be the longest ever, with a record 2.64 miles in length. It will traverse more than 13,000 feet of track, or almost a mile longer than the current world record holder, Steel Dragon 2000 at Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land. Soaring over a Formula 1 race track, Falcon's Flight will also beat the current record holder for speed.

Inside world’s 'fastest & tallest' rollercoaster to be built with 156mph speed qhiqqhiqxxirtinvA simulation of the rollercoaster (@ThemeParkPredictions/YouTube)

There will be six trains each seating 14 people, two in the front car and four each in the remaining three cars, with each row sporting its own windshield, removing the need to wear goggles. The project, with one model car, was presented this week by Intamin during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo.

A simulation has got fans excited as the video twists and turns over 13,000ft of track, at one point lunging off the side of a cliff. One user commented on the video: "Wow at almost 200m tall that is one insane height for a roller coaster." While another said: "Wow! And the airtime in the back car is going to be insane going down that cliff."

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Inside world’s 'fastest & tallest' rollercoaster to be built with 156mph speedOne of the cars on the simulation that can hold up to 14 people (@ThemeParkPredictions/YouTube)

But others are more cautious, with one user saying: "I am super excited to see how this goes! However, it will be interesting to see how it rides… I feel like their is only about 5 great moments on this ride and the rest is kinda filler track! I hope I am wrong and the whole ride is great.

"But it almost seems like more of a gimmick coaster than something filled with tons of standout moments." And another said: "This has the chance to be one of the biggest disasters in roller-coaster history. It's being built in the middle of the desert."

Inside world’s 'fastest & tallest' rollercoaster to be built with 156mph speedOne of the big drops on the simulation (@ThemeParkPredictions/YouTube)

Qiddiya’s Chief Executive Officer, Philippe Gas said: "Rollercoaster fans around the world have been eagerly anticipating this ride since it was announced as there is nothing quite like it anywhere else. Now we are in the design stage with the experts at Intamin and the engineering team at Six Flags, the excitement is building!

"Falcon’s Flight will dominate the skyline at Qiddiya weave all the way around our destination, right out of the theme park, up the cliffside, and down the cliff face – the greatest drop of any ride in the world; it won’t be for the fainthearted."

Rachel Hagan

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