The new 4D, free-fly coaster is named after the comic book villain, The Joker. Watch video
JACKSON - Thrill seekers will get to take on Six Flags Great Adventure's newest roller coaster, The Joker, on Thursday when season pass holders will be able to preview the ride before it opens to the general public.
The new 4D, free-fly coaster is the theme park's 14th scream machine, and its second new coaster to open in as many years.
After being lifted straight up a 12-story, 90-degree hill, The Joker will flip riders head-over-heels at least six times along the seemingly weightless journey.
Thrill seekers will experience leaps and dives along a horizontal plane, as well as unexpected drops as they tumble from one level to the next.
The wing seats will enable rider to experience these drops and flips with no track above or below them - just the sky, ground and adjacent Great Lake churning around them.
"This genre of ride is so unique. There is no track below you and nothing above you, so riders are truly doing these acrobatic maneuvers mid-air," roller coaster expert Tim Baldwin said in a press release. "The combination of flips, drops and ultra-cool straight-up 120-foot lift makes this coaster totally different than all the other world-class coasters at Great Adventure."
The unique design of The Joker includes:
- One-of-a-kind onboard magnetic technology, featuring smooth head-over-heels free-fly flips providing guests the feeling of weightlessness as they soar outside the confines of a traditional track
- 4D wing vehicles that seat up to eight riders per vehicle, with a total of 5 vehicles
- Seats that allow riders to face each other as they tumble head over heels
- A 120-foot-tall, 90-degree hill that is ascended by an elevator-style, chain link lift
- Two beyond 90-degree "raven" drops creating the sensation of free-falling
"The Joker is undeniably one of the greatest DC Comics Super-Villains ever created. Only someone with his warped sense of humor could provide this level of insanity - or spinsanity - with a new, vertical coaster that delivers gravity-defying somersaults with utter unpredictability," Six Flags Great Adventure President John Fitzgerald said in a press release. "It is the perfect addition to our dynamic line-up of award-winning roller coasters because this ride delivers total mayhem with its next-generation, cutting-edge thrills."
The Joker previews to season pass holders through Friday evening and opens to the general public on Saturday.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.