Top 10 Fastest Roller Coasters In The World
Here, we take a look at the fastest roller coasters in the world that every thrill seeker must try at least once in this lifetime.
These speed monsters are scattered across the globe but they have one thing in common: the ultimate speed experience.
Unsurprisingly, these roller coasters are all made of steel (no wood coaster currently makes it to this list), come in a variety of designs, and more than half break the 100mph barrier.
These rides also feature plenty of loops, gravity-defying turns, and twists and intense drops just waiting for the adventurous to come explore.
We have also taken the pleasure of adding some of the peculiar features of each ride alongside some history for the story lovers.
So, gentlemen and ladies, we are catapulting from 0 to nerve-rattling speeds as we take a look at the fastest roller coasters in the world.
FASTEST ROLLER COASTERS IN THE WORLD
1) FORMULA ROSSA
Top of the list of the fastest roller coasters in the world is the steel-launched roller coaster referred to as “Formula Rossa”.
It rose to the position of the fastest roller coaster in the world after completing a record 240km/ h(150mph) in a minute and 32 seconds at an acceleration of 100km/h (62mph) under 2 seconds.
Manufactured by Intamin (one of the world’s best thrill rides and roller coasters designing and manufacturing company) the Formula Rossa roller coaster has a drop of 160ft(51.5m), a length of 6,790ft(2,070m) and height of 171ft(52m).
During its manufacture, the Formula Rossa was called the “F1 Coaster” and was officially unveiled on November 4th, 2010.
It is located at the Ferrari World Park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and it runs on a Hydraulic Launch Track(HLT) covering 2.2km (1.41m).
It has among other features, four trains comprising of four cars which allows a total of 16 riders per train.
2) KINGDA KA
The Kingda Ka is a roller coaster designed by Werner Stengel and manufactured by Intamin.
On September 10, 2003, plans commenced on building the Kingda Ka and on 21st May 2005, it was officially launched at the Golden Kingdom Park, Jackson, New Jersey, United States.
Kingda Ka is reputed to be the tallest roller coaster in the world and the second fastest of all roller coasters.
Due to the height of the Kingda Ka roller coaster, a rider must be about 137cm(54 inches) to ride on it.
The roller coaster runs on a Hydraulic Launch System, has a drop of 418ft(127m), a length of 950m(3,118ft) and runs at a speed of 206km/h(128mph) in 3.5 seconds.
TRAINS:
Kingda Ka has four trains all colored in orange, dark blue, green and teal and each of the train seats an approximate 18 persons at a stretch.
The trains of Kingda Ka also has removable panels which can be removed for future installations of extra seats.
INCREDIBLE MOMENTS:
Kingda Ka has so far undergone several incidents like the failure of its bolts on June 8, 2015.
In May 2009, Kingda Ka suffered a great damage following a lightning strick. This led to its closure for three months before it was reopened for use on August 21, 2009.
3) TOP THRILL DRAGSTER
The Top Thrill Dragster is the third fastest roller coasters in the world. It runs on a Hydraulic Launch System(HLS) and consists of magnetic brakes that stop the train without much friction.
It was designed by Werner Stengel and built by Intamin at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, United States.
With a drop of 400ft and a height of 420ft, Top Thrill Dragster can reach a speed of 190km/h (120mph).
The plans to manufacture the Top Thrill Dragster commenced in 2000 and it was finally unveiled to the media on May 1, 2003.
It is reputed to have cost about $25,000,000(USD).
RECORDS:
Shortly after public launch, Top Thrill Dragster set four world records:
- World’s tallest complete circuit roller coaster
- The world’s fastest roller coaster (It has since been overtaken)
- World’s tallest roller coaster drop
- World’s tallest roller coaster.
4) DO-DODONPA
This is the fourth fastest roller coaster in the world. This rollercoaster is cited in the Fuji- Q Highland Park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.
It was Opened for public use on November 21, 2001
It runs on steel and makes use of compressed air to launch its trains.
It reaches a maximum speed of 180km/h in 1.56 seconds and takes you on an approximate 172km ride (107mph) in 1.8 seconds.
The Do- Dodonpa roller coaster has a height of 161ft(49m), a length of 4,081ft.
5) SUPERMAN: ESCAPE FROM KRYPTON
This ride was formally called the “Superman: The Escape”. It is a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California.
It began operation on March 15th, 1997 and it stands at a height of 126.5m(415ft) and length of 1,235ft(376.4m).
It was previously intended to begin operation in 1996 but due to issues encountered in the Launch System, the opening was extended till 1997 and in 2010, it underwent a refurbishment and was brought back in 2011 with the new name “Superman: Escape From Krypton”.
Its comeback was characterized by new features: a speed of 104mph(167km/h), new colors and new backward-faced trains.
It runs on a Linear Synchronous Motor(LSM) launch system and its worth is estimated at $20,000,000(USD).
6) TOWER OF TERROR
The Dreamworld theme park(the largest amusement park in Australia) plays host to the Tower of Terror roller coaster.
The Tower of Terror is at the 6th spot of the fastest roller coasters in the world due to its ability to reach 160km/h in 27 seconds.
It was patterned in a way that it does not complete the normal circuit but rather reverses at certain points and returns the same way it came.
It started operation in January 1997.
7) RING RACER
Located at Nurburgring, Nurburg, Germany, the Ring Racer roller coaster was manufactured by S and S Worldwide.
With an oval race-like track, the Ring Racer moves at a speed of 160km/h in 2.5 seconds – almost twice the speed of a race car!
Patterned after the Formula One racing, you can complete the entire circuit of the Ring Racer in about 85 seconds.
8) STEEL DRAGON
In the Nagashima Spa Land amusement park, Kuwana, Japan, the Steel Dragon roller coaster is king.
The Steel Dragon got its name from derivations and permutations made after it was built.
Manufactured by D.H Morgan Manufacturing and opened on 1st August 2000, the Steel Dragon coincidentally got its name “Steel Dragon” as it shared the same Asian Lunar Calendar year with the Asian dragon.
It is composed of a height of 97m(315ft), a drop of 307ft(92.5m), a length of 2,479m(8,133m) and runs at a speed of 95mph(153km/h).
The approximate time to complete a ride is 4 minutes.
9) FURY 325
The Fury 325 is a steel roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park, Charlotte – bordering the North and South
Carolina.
It was designed and manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard with a Hyper Coaster model and officially opened on March 28, 2015.
Fury 325 has a maximum height of 99m(325ft), a drop of 320ft(98m), a length of 2,012m(6,602ft) and during its first ride, it reached the speed of 153km/h(95mph) making it the ninth fastest roller coaster in the world.
Fury 325 is composed of 8 cars and 3 open air trains. It takes an approximate 1,400 riders every hour and each rider of the Fury 325 is expected to be about 54 inches tall.
The Fury 325 cost about $30,000,000(USD) to build.
10) MILLENNIUM FORCE
Built by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, the Millennium Force is a Giga Coaster modeled steel-type roller
coaster located at the Cedar Point amusement park, Sandusky, Ohio, United States.
Opened on May 13, 2000; the Millennium Force has a 45-degree cable lift hill, a height of 34m(310ft), a length of 6,595ft, a 91m drop and is also composed of four hills, three overbanked turns, two tunnels and has a speed of 150km/h(93mph).
Riders of the Millennium Force are expected to be about 198cm tall and about 1,300 persons can take the ride every hour.
FEATURES:
Top among the features of the Millennium Force is the 6,595 feet steel track; two stations for loading and unloading the trains and three stainless trains of blue, yellow and red colors.
It cost about $25,000,000(USD) to build the Millennium Force.