Dragon Khan

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Dragon Khan
Rollercoaster dragon khan universal port aventura spain.jpg
The train is at the top of the biggest loop in this side view of Dragon Khan
PortAventura
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Status Operating
Opening date May 2, 1995
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer John Wardley (Layout) Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH (Mechanical role)
Model Sitting Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 45.1 m (148 ft)
Drop 49.1 m (161 ft)
Length 1,285 m (4,216 ft)
Speed 104.6 km/h (65.0 mph)
Inversions 8
Duration 1:45
G-force 4
Height restriction 140 cm (4 ft 7 in)
Dragon Khan at RCDB
Pictures of Dragon Khan at RCDB

Dragon Khan is a steel sit-down roller coaster located in the PortAventura theme park in Salou (Tarragona), Catalonia, Spain. Dragon Khan boasts eight inversions, which was a world record until the opening of the ten-inversion Colossus in Thorpe Park, United Kingdom in 2002.

The ride built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) opened on May 2, 1995 and was one of the two roller coasters that Port Aventura had when it opened. The track is red with white and pastel blue supports; the trains are green, blue and purple (A third train is run at peak times only).

Ride Experience

Inversions

Inversions
1 Vertical Loop
2 Dive Loop
3 Zero-G Roll
4 Part 1 of Cobra Roll
5 Part 2 of Cobra Roll
6 Vertical Loop
7 Part 1 of Interlocking Corkscrews
8 Part 2 of Interlocking Corkscrews

The ride

After boarding the ride, riders climb to the top of the lift hill 45 m (148 ft), before plummeting back down to earth and straight into a 36 metres (118 ft) vertical loop. This is immediately followed by a diving loop. Right after this, the track goes through a zero-G roll, and a cobra roll. The track then goes through a midcourse brake run. Off the midcourse brake run, the track drops to the right into a second vertical loop and then finishes off with a pair of interlocking corkscrews. The ride then pulls up into the brake run before re-entering the Chinese-themed station. The track is 1,285 m (4,216 ft), and the ride's top speed is over 104 km/h (65 mph). The ride's duration is 1 minute and 45 seconds. The ride, thus far, has more inversions than any other B&M coaster made before or after.

File:Zero-g roll.jpg
Dragon Khan zero g roll

The ride has a total of three trains, each containing seven cars. Riders are arranged four across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.

The theme for this ride is based on Chinese mythology: the Dragon Khan was the reincarnated spirit of the evil Prince Hu of Beijing. His fury was unleashed each time a human dared to climb atop his back. This links in with the fact that the ride is located at the very back of the park in the Chinese themed area. Due to this ride's placement, it can be seen from anywhere inside the park, as well as from nearby hotels and the Reus airport.

External links

Preceded by World's Tallest Vertical Loop
May 1995–May 1996
Succeeded by
Mantis
Preceded by First Roller Coaster With 8 Inversions
May 1995–March 2002
Succeeded by
Colossus