Kingda Ka

Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka prior to the addition of Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom
Six Flags Great Adventure
Location	Six Flags Great Adventure
Park section	The Golden Kingdom
Coordinates	40°08′21.18″N 74°26′11.39″W
Status	Removed
Opening date	May 21, 2005 (2005-05-21)
Cost	$25,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel – Launched
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Accelerator Coaster
Track layout	Strata Coaster
Lift/launch system	Hydraulic launch
Height	456 ft (139 m)
Drop	418 ft (127 m)
Length	3,118 ft (950 m)
Speed	128 mph (206 km/h)
Duration	0:28
Max vertical angle	90°
Capacity	1,400 riders per hour
Acceleration	0 to 128 mph (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds
G-force	5
Height restriction	54–77 in (137–196 cm)
Trains	Four trains, with five cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows (except for the last car), for a total of 18 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Kingda Ka at RCDB Pictures of Kingda Ka at RCDB

Kingda Ka is a defunct steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. It was built by Stakotra, a subcontractor to Intamin. Built in 2005 to be the worlds tallest and fastest roller coaster Kingda Ka is one of only two strata coasters in the world. Kingda Ka held the record for the worlds fastest roller coaster until the completion of Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Kingda Ka goes up 456 feet (139 m) and can go 128 miles per hour (206 km/h). It first opened on May 21, 2005. To get up 456 feet, the train is launched by a machine to 128 miles per hour in 3 seconds. The train goes up the tower, and back down. At the bottom the train goes over a hill while it is slowing down. Soon it is going slow enough to be able to arrive safely back where it started. The ride lasts 28 seconds from the time it is launched. On November 11th, 2024, park operators abruptly announced that Kingda Ka would be retired.

History

In the past, Kingda Ka has been struck by lightning and shut down for almost a whole year. The launch cable snapped once and the ride was shut down for a while. Something happened to the braking fins so they shut down the ride. It also can get shut down by weather. The train is made so that if it rolls back it gets placed back to be launched. This happens when the hydraulic launch system does not get enough power to get over the hill or the brakes on the top off the hill stop you too much. In November 2024, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that Kingda Ka would be removed to make way for a brand new, multi record breaking roller coaster, coming to the park in 2026.

Story

Kingda Ka is named for a 500-pound mythical tiger. A tiger in the safari was named after the roller coaster. It is surrounded by bamboo to make it look more real. It also plays music.

Features

Kingda Ka's full view

The ride has 4 trains with 5 cars. They are 9 rows in each car that can hold 18 people and there are 2 people in each row. Each seat has shoulder harnesses and buckles that keep the shoulder harness down to make sure passengers are safe. At the top, passengers are weightless for a second, and after riders enjoy a beautiful view, it is followed by a drop.

Restrictions

Passengers must be 4´7 to ride Kingda Ka.

Problems

A sign telling riders that the train may not travel over the hill

The train may sometimes experience a rollback after it is launched. A rollback happens when the train doesn't make it to the top of the hill and rolls back down the track. The launch track has magnetic brakes so that the train doesn't go back to the station.

Other websites

• Official website
• Video of Kingda Ka, Front seat POV on YouTube
• Kingda Ka
• Kingda Ka at the Roller Coaster DataBase