American Eagle
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| Manufacturer | Intamin[2] | ||||||||||||||
| Designer / calculations | Curtis D. Summers, Inc, Jim Figley, Leonard Wright[3] | ||||||||||||||
| Type | Wooden - Twin | ||||||||||||||
| Track layout | Out and Back | ||||||||||||||
| Hourly capacity | 1800 | ||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Chain lift hill | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 127 feet | ||||||||||||||
| Drop | 147 feet | ||||||||||||||
| Top speed | 66 mph | ||||||||||||||
| Length | 4650 feet | ||||||||||||||
| Inversions | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Drop angle | 55° | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2:23 | ||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | ||||||||||||||
| Riders per train | 30 | ||||||||||||||
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American Eagle is a twin wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, USA. First opened in 1981, the ride contains a helix and several large drops. It is the second roller coaster from Intamin and the company's first wooden coaster.
History
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Construction of the attraction began in June 1980.[4] American Eagle opened on May 23, 1981.[5] It was advertised as the longest roller coaster in the world. However, this is only true if the length is considered to be that of both sides added together.
During the 2002 season, one half of the ride operated backwards.[6]
The tent that housed the original American Eagle queue line from 1981 to 2006 was used as a circus tent from 1976 to 1980. In 2007, it was converted into a children's area named Kidzopolis. The current entrance is located to the right of Kidzopolis, utilizing part of the entry building for the adjacent Dare Devil Dive skycoaster. The old entrance was demolished in 2006. The original bald eagle that was on the roof of the old entrance is being used again on the new entrance.[7]
For the ride's 30th anniversary in 2011, the ride operated with backwards trains.[8]
Design
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American Eagle has an out and back layout. The ride begins with several airtime hills and a turnaround consisting of a large downward helix. More airtime hills follow and American Eagle concludes with a helix.
Trains
4 trains with 5 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows, for a total of 30 riders per train.
Incidents
- 9/9/1984: Three guests were hospitalized after two trains collided in the station.
- 9/7/1997: Four guests were slightly injured after the second and third cars on the blue train separated and collided on the brake run.[9]
Images
The ride's current entrance
The safety sign
The lift hill
A train in the station
The queue line bridge
The side selection
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References
- ↑ "Frank Mathie rides American Eagle rollercoaster in 1981". https://abc7chicago.com/frank-mathie-american-eagle-rollercoaster-six-flags-great-america/90023/.
- ↑ "Losing his 'cool' on the American Eagle", The Post-Crescent.
- ↑ "American Eagle: A rocketful of screams lets good times roll", Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ "A Blast From The Past - Six Flags Great America's American Eagle (Part 1)". NewsPlusNotes. https://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2011/08/blast-from-past-six-flags-great.html.
- ↑ "Scream like an eagle on Great America's new bird". Daily Herald. https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-herald-suburban-chicago-may-23-1981-p-21/.
- ↑ Wooden Coaster To Race Backwards For 2002 Season - Ultimate Rollercoaster
- ↑ "A Blast From The Past - Six Flags Great America's American Eagle (Part 2)". NewsPlusNotes. https://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2011/09/blast-from-past-six-flags-great.html.
- ↑ "Six Flags’ American Eagle To Run Backwards For 30th Anniversary". https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/09/six-flags-american-eagle-to-run-backwards-for-30th-anniversary/.
- ↑ Roller Coaster Rollback - CoasterBuzz (Wayback Archive)
External links
- American Eagle on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
| Tallest wooden roller coaster May 1981 - July 1985 | ||
| Preceded by Colossus |
Tallest wooden roller coaster May 1981 - July 1985 |
Succeeded by Le Monstre |
| Tallest roller coaster drop May 1981 - June 1988 | ||
| Preceded by The Beast |
Tallest roller coaster drop May 1981 - June 1988 |
Succeeded by ShockWave |
| Tallest wooden roller coaster drop May 1981 - May 1989 | ||
| Preceded by The Beast |
Tallest wooden roller coaster drop May 1981 - May 1989 |
Succeeded by Hercules |
| Fastest roller coaster May 1981 - March 1988 | ||
| Preceded by The Beast |
Fastest roller coaster May 1981 - March 1988 |
Succeeded by Bandit |
| Fastest wooden roller coaster May 1981 - April 2000 | ||
| Preceded by The Beast |
Fastest wooden roller coaster May 1981 - April 2000 |
Succeeded by Boss |
