| The Flash: Vertical Velocity | |
| Location: | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom |
| Section: | DC Universe |
| Type: | Steel |
| Type2: | Launched |
| Type3: | Inverted |
| Manufacturer: | Intamin |
| Model: | Impulse Coaster |
| Lift: | LIM |
| Status: | Standing but not operating (SBNO) |
| Opened: | June 8, 2001 |
| Height Ft: | 150 |
| Length Ft: | 630 |
| Speed Mph: | 65 |
| Duration: | 1 minute |
| Angle: | 90 |
| Inversions: | 1 |
| Acceleration: | 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds |
| Gforce: | 3.0 |
| Trains: | 1 |
| Carspertrain: | 7 |
| Rowspercar: | 2 |
| Ridersperrow: | 2 |
| Rcdb Number: | 1143 |
| Capacity: | 900 |
| Previousnames: | V2: Vertical Velocity (2001-2019) |
The Flash: Vertical Velocity (formerly known as V2: Vertical Velocity) is a steel Inverted Impulse roller coaster located at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. It is California's first and only inverting Inverted Impulse Coaster, built by Intamin and opened on June 8, 2001.[1] It stands 150feet and reaches speeds of up to 65mi/h.
When it opened on June 8, 2001, the ride was 186feet. Both sides of the track were vertical, the front tower twisted and the rear tower straight with a reverse LIM segment at the top (designed to hold the train momentarily). In 2002, the ride was temporarily closed while the track was modified from 186feet to the city ordinance limit of 150feet. To lower the height, the front tower was tilted to a 45-degree angle and the reverse tower lowered to 150feet.[2]
For the 2007 season, V2 was repainted red with maroon supports. Before the repainting, it had a yellow track with blue supports, which made this ride's paint scheme very similar to the defunct coaster Wicked Twister at Cedar Point, which had also had a yellow track and supports that were a lighter shade of teal.
Vertical Velocity closed for extensive refurbishment in early 2016, which included the removal and complete disassembly of the train. Sections of track and queue railings were also removed as part of this refurbishment.
On April 3, 2019, the park sent a newsletter announcing renovations to rebrand the coaster into The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which would open next to the park's new 4-D coaster, Batman: The Ride. The opening of the two coasters rebranded that area of the park to a DC Comics-themed land, standing along with Superman: Ultimate Flight, and The Joker. Vertical Velocity's supports were painted yellow for the new theme.[3]
Following the reopening of the park after its prolonged closure from the COVID-19 pandemic, The Flash once again was dormant, with barricades blocking the hill leading to the line in favor of a Mask Relief Area, where parkgoers could take off their personal masks if they so chose. The Flash's train was once again removed, this time going completely missing, whereas during the prior refurbishment to turn the coaster into The Flash, the train was disassembled and subsequently reassembled in the station.
As of Memorial Day weekend 2024 it is closed for refurbishments. Full detail of cause for closure unknown but per guest services it is not expected to reopen until 2025.
The roller coaster's layout is akin to a large vertical U shape, that is loaded at the base and uses a series of LIMs to accelerate the train up each side of the track. One side of the track is twisted track (commonly called an inline twist) that ends in a straight section angled at about 45 degrees, the other side is a perfectly vertical straight track.[4] The train seats 28 riders in an inverted roller coaster design.