Magic Mountain’s X2 gets flamethrowers + other effects

X2 riders lying flat on their backs will swoop under a pair of flamethrowers when the refurbished 360-degree rotating roller coaster reopens at Six Flags Magic Mountain on May 24, 2008.

Screamscape posted photos of after-hours fire-effects tests conducted in March with the old pink-and-yellow X cars.

For the fireball effects, which shoot from both sides of the track along one of the main drops, Magic Mountain will employ the same pyrotechnics experts used by Universal Studios Hollywood for the Backdraft attraction.

X2 ride computers instantly shut off the flamethrowers should wind gusts exceed specified speeds. Industry standards dictate the maximum fire temperature as well as the minimum distance between rider and flame.

Officials confirmed that additional X2 special effects include fog, sound and possibly another “sensory element.” Magic Mountain recently shelved plans to add “ominous” fly-through tunnels to X2 as part of a $10-million overhaul.

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the
Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Photo courtesy of Screamscape]

Permalink | E-mail | Print | Add to My Trips

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 4:38 pm by Brady MacDonald and is filed under Family & Kids, Los Angeles, Magic Mountain, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.