Flight Deck (California's Great America)
Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun) is a steel inverted roller coaster located at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster made its debut on March 20, 1993, as Top Gun. The roller coaster was built as Paramount, who had purchased the Great America theme park in 1992 along with several other parks, sought to expand its entertainment opportunities and promote its films. After Paramount sold off its Great America park to Cedar Fair, the roller coaster was rebranded as Flight Deck.
| Flight Deck | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Top Gun (1993–2006) | |
| California's Great America | |
| Location | California's Great America |
| Park section | Orleans Place |
| Coordinates | 37°23′53″N 121°58′18″W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | March 20, 1993 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Inverted Coaster |
| Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Drop | 91 ft (28 m) |
| Length | 2,260 ft (690 m) |
| Speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Duration | 2:26 |
| G-force | 4.5 |
| Height restriction | 54 in (137 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train. |
Fast Lane available | |
| Flight Deck at RCDB | |
Flight Deck reaches a maximum height of 100 ft (30 m), with a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a total track length of 2,260 ft (690 m). The roller coaster was the second Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted model to be built. Originally themed to the Top Gun film, the roller coaster was set on an aircraft carrier with various displays. Upon opening, the roller coaster received mostly positive reviews from critics and guests.