| Batman: The Dark Knight | |
| Previousnames: | Batman: The Ride (2008) |
| Location: | Six Flags New England |
| Section: | Gotham City |
| Type: | Steel |
| Type2: | Floorless Coaster |
| Manufacturer: | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Model: | Floorless Coaster |
| Status: | Operating |
| Opened: | April 20, 2002 |
| Cost: | $9,500,000[1] |
| Track: | Twister |
| Lift: | Chain lift hill |
| Height Ft: | 117.8 |
| Length Ft: | 2850 |
| Speed Mph: | 55 |
| Duration: | 2:20 |
| Inversions: | 5 |
| Restriction In: | 54 |
| Trains: | 2 |
| Carspertrain: | 7 |
| Rowspercar: | 1 |
| Ridersperrow: | 4 |
| Virtual Queue Name: | Flash Pass |
| Virtual Queue Image: | Fastpass availability icon.svg |
| Virtual Queue Status: | available |
| Single Rider: | available |
| Rcdb Number: | 1549 |
| Coordinates: | 42.0353°N -72.6131°W |
Batman: The Dark Knight (formerly Batman: The Ride) is a steel floorless roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard located in the Gotham City section of Six Flags New England. The roller coaster has 2600feet of track, reaches a maximum height of 117.8feet and features five inversions. The coaster was released to the public on April 20, 2002. In 2008, the ride's name was changed to Batman: The Ride to avoid confusion with Six Flags New England's installation of The Dark Knight Coaster that was planned to be built at the park, but after the project was cancelled, the ride's name reverted to Batman: The Dark Knight.
Batman: The Dark Knight was announced to the public in February 2002, though construction had started in September 2001.[2] After construction and testing was completed by Martin & Vleminckx,[3] the ride officially opened on April 20, 2002.
In 2007, Six Flags announced that three The Dark Knight Coaster roller coasters would be built at Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Great America and Six Flags New England. Because Batman: The Dark Knight's name was so similar to the new roller coaster, it was temporarily renamed Batman: The Ride to avoid confusion with the upcoming attraction.[4] However, as construction on the new roller coaster progressed, the city of Agawam forced Six Flags to stop construction after it was discovered the park had not received the appropriate construction permits.[5] [6] In April 2008, Six Flags cancelled the project due to the delays and so the name was reverted to Batman: The Dark Knight.[5] [6]
Riders enter a plaza with an arched entrance, where they see the Batman logo covering the ground with Gotham theming. Riders then wind through either the Flash Pass queue directly to the station or the regular standby queue. When attendance is high, an extra switchback section is used.
Once the train is ready to dispatched, part of the station's floor is lowered. The train then departs and immediately begins to climb the 117.8feet lift hill. Once at the top, the train goes through a pre-drop before making a sharp downward left turn back to the ground. When the train reaches the bottom, it then enters a 95feet vertical loop. Upon exiting the loop, the train then rises back up and goes through a 85feet dive loop. The train then makes a 180 degree left turn through the loop before going through a set of trim brakes. Next, the train enters a zero-gravity roll followed by a right turn leading into interlocking corkscrews. After exiting the first corkscrew, the train makes a left turn before going through the second corkscrew. The train then makes another left turn into the final brake run which leads back to the station.[7] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 20 seconds.[8]
The steel box track of Batman: The Dark Knight is approximately 2600feet long and the lift is 117.8feet tall.[8] It was manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators located in Batavia, Ohio who manufactures Bolliger & Mabillard's roller coasters.[9] [10] The track is colored purple (with blue rails) while the supports are black.[11]
Batman: The Dark Knight operates with two steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has seven cars that can seat four riders in one row for a total of 28 riders per train.[8] The trains have similar colors as the track, the seats are purple and uses black over-the-shoulder restraints. The black restraints replaced the yellow shoulder harnesses that were in place when the ride opened.