Superman: Ride of Steel

Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts

 Airtime: It's that delicious moment when due to the design of the ride, you are either floated up out of your seat, or the seat is yanked out from under you, leaving you in the air. Rides with lots of speedy camelback hills usually offer airtime of the floating variety, while steep and abrupt drops usually offer the yanks. Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England is one of those rare breeds that gives you both. LOTS of both. If there exists a steel coaster anywhere on the planet with more airtime, then I have yet to find it. A quick look at the picture below shows the folks in the back seat enjoying some fantastic yank-style airtime. It's important to note that the train is at the bottom of the hill, that the top of the hill is waaay above the top of the picture, and the back-seat folks are still not back in their seats. Airtime like this is as rare as it is satisfying. Don't worry about having to ride in the back of the car to get good air, though. Trust me, everyone on the train was flying when the car sailed over the crest of that hill... and the hill before it... and the hill before that... and they will also fly on every hill from here till the end of the ride.

In addition to superior airtime, this version of Superman offers a great first drop (into a tunnel), an overbanked turnaround, several leaning helix maneuvers, a nifty underground section, and an insane bunnyhop finale. And did I mention the airtime? Just look at the folks in the pic below, sailing over that hill! WAAAAY up out of their seats, flying without a cape or even the customary blue and red tights...

When I mentioned to friends that I was going to include Six Flags New England on my itenerary for 2001, everyone told me that the SFNE Superman would be my new #1 steel coaster. I don't buy into most hype, and prefer to like my own quirky choices for #1. But they were right about this one. It instantly became my favorite steel coaster, and it stayed there until I took a ride on Expedition GeForce in 2002...