by Donald Wood
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Wed May 20, 2015
Image via Twitter
Thrillseekers are always looking for the next big thing in roller coasters to satisfy their desire for excitement, and the Six Flags New England amusement park in Agawam, Massachusetts, has stepped up its game with the opening of Wicked Cyclone.
According to Six Flags, the amusement park launched the first hybrid roller coaster on the East Coast of the United States when the select few first riders took flight on the debuting Wicked Cyclone Wednesday morning.
The ride opens to the public on Sunday, May 24.
For those roller coaster enthusiasts who remember the original Riverside Cyclone built at the park in 1983, it was closed in 2014 and turned into the hybrid attraction that will be unleashed on the masses throughout the summer. With both wooden and steel elements to the ride, the Wicked Cyclone will quickly become a must-visit coaster.
Six Flags New England shared an image on Twitter and a test-run video of Wicked Cyclone:
As one of the five hybrid roller coasters found anywhere in the world, passengers are in store for a wild ride that features a 78 degree drop, top speeds reaching 55 miles per hour, and a total of 3,320 feet of track. Add in the fact that Wicked Cyclone is the only hybrid coaster that features a 200 degree stall and two zero-g rolls, and this is truly a one-of-a-kind attraction.
Instead of the traditional wooden track that was installed when the Cyclone was originally built, it has been replaced with a steel track that makes for a smoother - and faster - experience. The changes to the structure also let it stand over 10 stories tall, a total of 109 feet in the air.
After climbing the lift hill, riding down the biggest drop and reaching maximum speed, passengers will be put through several high-banked turns. The most exciting parts of the ride are the two zero-g rolls that are impossible on wooden roller coasters, but feasible on a hybrid coaster.
With the ride boasting more airtime than any other roller coaster on the east coast, anyone who enjoys the thrill of taking a spin on one of these attractions should add Wicked Cyclone to the bucket list.
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