The tallest coasters currently towers about 45 stories above the ground, while the fastest accelerates to 240 km/h in just under 5 seconds. Tubular steel coasters allow more looping, higher and steeper hills, greater drops and rolls, and faster speeds than wooden.
Kingda Ka
Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Location: Valencia, California
Designer: Intamin AG
Class: Steel; Launched Shuttle
Year of 1st ride: 20057
Drop: 456 ft (139 m)
Top Thrill Dragster
Park: Cedar Point
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Designer: Intamin AG
Class: Steel; Strata, Launched
Year of 1st ride: 2003
Drop: 420 ft (130 m)
Superman – the Escape
Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
Location: Valencia, California
Designer: Intamin AG
Class: Steel; Launched Shuttle
Year of 1st ride: 1997
Drop: 415 ft (126 m)
credit: Chun Yip So
credit: Adam Ahmed
credit: Jeremy Thompson
credit: Patrick McGarvey
credit: Andrew Hitchcock
credit: Craig Lloyd
credit: Syed Abdul Khaliq
credit: Syed Abdul Khaliq
credit: SArsene
credit: SArsene