Hypersonic XLC, Steel roller coaster in Kings Dominion, Virginia.
Hypersonic XLC was a steel coaster at Kings Dominion with a long track layout and seating configured in four rows with two passengers per row. The ride used a compressed air launch system to accelerate passengers rapidly before sending them down steep descents.
This coaster opened in 2001 as the world's first compressed air launch roller coaster, designed by S&S Worldwide. It operated for seven years before closing and being dismantled in 2008.
The introduction of Hypersonic XLC represented a shift in roller coaster technology, demonstrating the evolution of thrill rides in American amusement parks at the start of the millennium.
The coaster accelerated passengers from a standstill to extreme speeds in just a few seconds, making the experience very intense. Visitors should expect a short but very fast and thrilling ride with powerful acceleration forces.
The coaster required 60 trucks to transport it from Utah to Virginia, a logistical challenge that reflected its complex engineering. Despite this advanced technology, the ride proved difficult to maintain and experienced frequent operational problems.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
