American Eagle

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American Eagle

Six Flags Great America Location Gurnee, Illinois, USA Status Operating since May 23, 1981 Cost $10,000,000
Statistics
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer / calculations	Curtis D. Summers, Inc, Jim Figley, Leonard Wright
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

American Eagle in 2004, with one train facing forwards and the other facing backwards

American Eagle opened on May 23, 1981. 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 operated backwards. Sometime during the 2016 or 2017 season the park stopped racing American Eagle around this time and only extremely rarely will it occur. In more recent years, only one side would be open while the ride operates with the other side not or occasionally both sides will run but one side would dispatch while the other side would return to the station and this cycle repeats for both red and blue sides. There is no official reason as to why the coaster no longer races but some have claimed a few logical reasons for why:

1. Low ridership/staff shortage.
2. The age of the coasters structure, most notably the ride's giant helix. For years, the heavy PTC trains have constantly cycled their way through the wooden track at powerful speed which has possibly put lots of stress on the track and structure making the wooden supports weak and fragile along with the costs to repair the structure.
3. Employees have claimed to report rowdy guests constantly throwing objects at each other during segments of the ride where the trains on each interact with each other.

The coaster continues to operate despite the absence of dueling.

Design

Elements
127 foot tall chain lift hill with a 147 foot drop Block brake Helix

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.

Photo Gallery

• 

  The lift hill.

• 

  A train in the station.

• 

  The side selection.

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