Fastest Roller Coaster in the World

The thrill and excitement left on one's face after a roller coaster ride is something mind-blowing! Thrill seekers and coaster enthusiasts are always on the lookout for new high-tech coasters, that will blow the wind off their sails. The sharp turns, high G forces, descends, etc. conduce to an ultimate adventure experience. Scores of architects and engineers are constantly coming with faster, taller and better roller coasters, to give the rider the ultimate roller coaster experience.

Which is the Tallest and Fastest Roller Coaster in the World?

The title for the highest and fastest roller coaster in the world belongs to Kingda Ka of Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park in Jackson, New Jersey, USA. The champion Kingda Ka enjoyed this glory for almost four years, from 2005 to 2009, by accelerating at a speed of 128 mph, in 3.5 seconds and reaching a height of 456 feet. Wow what co-ordinates! If this record had to be broken we definitely need an Usain bolt in the roller coaster stratum.

Kingda Ka uses hydraulic motors to launch its coaster train. Passengers are propelled from zero to 128 mph in less than four seconds, before climbing the main tower at a vertical angle. There's a twist at 90 degrees and reaches a height of 456 feet, which is near about 45 stories. What height! Over the apex comes the mind-blowing vertical descent, unfolding a 270 spiral as the coaster train falls to a speed of 100 mph. This entire titillating ride takes only 28 seconds of your life. Imagine the fastest one minute of your life!

Potential Record Breaker

Ring Racer of Nrburgring, Germany is a formula-one themed roller coaster that was due to open on 15 August, 2009. It has been manufactured by S&S Power system, features a pneumatic launch and is supposed to raise the speed bar to 134.8 mph in 2.5 seconds. Had it opened Kingda Ka would have lost their glorious title. However, due to some defects in the launch system, the opening of the much awaited Ring Racer had to be delayed until 2010. So Kingda Ka still reigns!

Other Fast Roller Coasters

Top Thrill Dragster
Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA features a titillating climb of 420 feet and accelerates at a speed of 120 mph in less than 4 seconds. This legendary coaster was the first strata coaster to climb over 400 feet. The entire ride takes 17 seconds. Before the Kingda Ka came about, this Top thrill dragster was the fastest roller coaster in the world.

Dodonpa
Dodonpa of Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan is a steel sit-down roller coaster with compressed air launch. It reaches a height of 170 feet at a speed of 107 mph in less than 2 seconds. The entire ride takes 55 seconds.

Tower of Terror
Tower of Terror in Queensland, Australia uses linear synchronous motors to shoot straight up an L-shaped track. It is reported to be the tallest and faster roller coaster in the Southern Hemisphere and is a steel reverse free fall roller coaster. This tower of terror unlike other roller coasters makes only vertical moves, thus, is not considered as a true roller coaster by most coaster enthusiasts. However, it does thrill riders by its 38 stories climb at a speed of 100 mph climb in seven seconds.

Superman The Escape
Superman The Escape of Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA, was launched in 1997 and is similar to Australia's Tower of Terror, except for the fact that it rises higher to a height of 41 stories, before pausing and dropping back down. The coaster accelerates at a speed of 100 mph in 7 seconds.

Steel Dragon 2000
Steel Dragon 2000 of Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan was built to celebrate the 'Year of the Dragon'. It happens to be the tallest roller coaster that utilized a traditional chain lift. It also holds the record for the longest track length of 8133 feet, 2 inches. It accelerates at a speed of 95 mph. Since, this roller coaster steel giant has been built in earthquake prone zone, its construction required enormous amounts of steel.

These were some of the fastest roller coasters in the world. However, even today the prestigious title of the fastest roller coaster in the world belongs to Kingda Ka of New Jersey. Let's wait for the Ring Racer of Nrburgring and see if it manages to take away the crown from Kingda Ka this year!