Origins of X-Flight Six Flags Great America

     Chicago - X-Flight is a steel roller coaster in the County Fair Section of Six Flags Great America near Chicago, Illinois.  X-Flight opened as the second Wing Coaster in the United States after,Wild Eagle, and it is Six Flags Great America, Illinois, thriteenth roller coaster.
     A little bit about what happens when you ride on the X-Flight will be like: a pre-drop (or, kicker) that is usually found on coasters of this type.  After the lift hill (devices used to pull trains up hills), a pre-drop acts as a shelf for the front of the train while the back is still leaving the lift hill.  This is used to reduce strain on the chain lift.  After the pre-drop, a half-barrel roll (while riding straight) rolls left to right up to 180 degrees.  After the half-barrel roll the ride enters a lead-up to the main drop.  This lead-up is upside-down (inverted).  Six Flags Great America's X-Flight defies gravity.  By virture of being a "wing coaster" their is no track above or below your feet.  Instead, sitting in pairs (two side-by-side) riders are suspended (hung) on either side of the steel X-Flight track.  X-Flight rises twelve stories (approximately 120 feet), reaches speeds up to 55 miles-per-hour, features five inversions, has a Zero-G roll, and a complete barrel roll (360 twist around the track, while going straight).  In order, the inversions are:  Dive Loop, Zero-G Roll, Immelmann, Zero-G Roll, and an Inline Twist (360 degree twist around the track while going straight).
     X-Flight opened May 16, 2012.  X-Flight trains have seven cars with one row each, seating four side-by-side.  X-Flight is one of America's first wing roller coasters.  X-Flight may refer to one of two roller coasters.  X-Flight (Six Flags Great America) the wing roller coaster at Six Flags Great America.  Or, X-Flight (Geauga Lake).  According to Wikipedia, while the park was still named Six Flags Ohio, plans for a new roller coaster known as X-Flight were revealed on January 4, 2001.  Six days later Six
Flags purchased Sea World Ohio - next to Geauga Lake - with the intent of merging the two to create Six Flags, Worlds of Adventure.  The new venture advertised X-Flight as the first Flying roller coaster in the Midwest, and it was the park's tenth roller coaster overall - it was the fifth added since 2000.  The new coaster was built on a former bus parking lot, and Geauga Lake Road had to be re-routed around the ride.
Land clearing for X-Flight began December 1, 2000, and construction on the footers began February 9, 2001.  X-Flight opened May 26, 2001.  See full story, www.sixflags.com/greatamerica.