Six Flags closed the world’s tallest roller coaster KingDa Ka on Nov. 11, 2024, but coaster enthusiasts will enjoy a new world’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, Falcons Flight, which is opening in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
Falcon’s Flight will be in Six Flags Qiddiya, a new park opening near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It will be home to many different record breaking rides. Falcon’s Flight, the park’s main attraction, falls off of a cliff face that surrounds the park. It will be the world’s tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster. The coaster’s top speed is about the same speed that a commercial airplane takes off at.
Along with Falcon’s Flight, the park also will have the world’s tallest tilt coaster, the Iron Rattler, and the world’s tallest pendulum swing, the Gyro Spin. Around 15 hotels will be connected to the park.
Six Flags Qiddiya is expected to open sometime this year.
Falcons Flight
Emma Kalfus, a seventh-grader on the Majestics team, says more people will come because of the ride.
“It’s going to make more people come because of the height and speed.”
She is excited to see the new 639-foot monster enter Six Flags’ new park. Falcon’s Flight will reach a max height of 639 feet off of one of Saudi Arabia’s cliff faces.
A lot of people are excited about the Falcons Flight opening, but will it be able to operate?
Matthew Eggers, the tech ed teacher at RCMS says it should be fine.
“Yeah, I assume that if they did the engineering it should operate fine,” he said. “I think it would be safe enough to ride but there are some risks with the height and speed. Something as small as a bird hitting you could kill you because of how fast it is.”
Mr. Eggers was really surprised with the speed of the coaster.
“They definitely should wear goggles. I would definitely wear my own goggles if I rode it,” he said.
The rides manufacturer Intimin had to worry about the climate of Saudi’s hot summers. This can affect the ride’s wheels and track. If the ride’s wheels overheat the ride can become dangerous, especially with its height and speed.
Mr. Eggers says there should be some sort of cooling mechanism.
“They probably have some sort of cooling mechanism for the hydraulics.”
Stats and facts
- 639 feet tall
- 156 mph
- 13,943 feet of track
- Will be the world’s longest roller coaster
- World’s first Exa coaster (coaster over 600 ft)
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
You will need to be 51” 129 cm to ride Falcon’s Flight, with a max height of 77” or 196 cm.
KingDa Ka
KingDa Ka has held the world’s tallest roller coaster record since 2005. It was closed on Nov. 11, 2024. KingDa Ka was named after a Chinese panda that the park rescued.
Emma says that the ride closing will affect the park’s attendance.
“I feel like it was a really big ride so closing will be really bad for their business.”
Grant Thompson, 12, Majestics team disagrees.
“It won’t change anything because people are going for other rides too.”
Six flags is spending over $500 million over the next two years with all their parks, this is compared to the $148 million they spent in the last two years.
Was it worth it closing KingDa Ka?
Christy Ryder, Majestics and Dolphins counselor says, it’s hard to say if it’s worth it or not.
“Hard to say because there are some people who don’t like change but people might like new things,” she said.
Stats and facts
- 456 feet tall
- 128 mph
- 50 seconds long
- 3,118 feet of track
- World tallest roller coaster for 19 years
- World tallest top hat for 19 years
- In Jackson, New Jersey
