Tatsu

Where:
-Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA, USA)
Height:
-170 feet
Top Speed:
-62 mph
Manufacturer:
-Bolliger & Mabillard

Riders face straight down once locked in

Boy, I've reviewed a lot of B&M coasters, haven't I? Well here it is, Tatsu, the world's largest and fastest flying coaster. Riders settle into the seats upright, but once locked in, the ride repositions itself and faces straight down. Tatsu takes you up a steep lift, which is terrifying if you're afraid of heights. Look down, there's nothing below you but the ground. The scariest part of the ride is when it hits the top and you dive headfirst, before sending you into a Zero-G roll (the first of its kind on a flying coaster). You'll be flying around and diving until Tatsu transitions into a massive, 124-foot pretzel roll, and then the ride's fourth and final inversion, a twist. Tatsu is the centerpiece of Six Flags Magic Mountain, located high above the trees. It's one of the smoothest rides in the park, if not the smoothest. Tatsu is the most fun at night, but I'd ride it at any hour of the day. If you're only spending a day at SFMM, make sure Tatsu is one of your top priorities. Don't let long lines intimidate you, this and X2 are worth waiting every second. This ride is the closest I can imagine to actually flying. The sensation of lying straight down and soaring through the air has never been done so well. Tatsu is debatably the best ride in the park, and that's saying a lot.