Tatsu

History

Land clearing began in mid-2005 around the Samurai Summit area of the park with track for the new roller coaster arriving soon thereafter. Construction permits filed by Six Flags Magic Mountain and a trademark for the name Tatsu (filed on August 23, 2005) were later found by the public. Tatsu was officially announced to the public on November 17, 2005. Both Revolution and Roaring Rapids were temporarily closed in order for the roller coaster to be built.

Tatsu broke several records upon opening, becoming the world's tallest, fastest, and longest flying roller coaster. It held these records until The Flying Dinosaur opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2016, which broke Tatsu's length record and matched the coaster's top speed of 62 mph. Tatsu still remains the tallest, and it also features the tallest pretzel loop in the world, which stands 124 ft. Its zero-gravity roll is the only one featured on a flying coaster model.

Ride experience

After riders board the train situated in a vertical, standing position, each car then pivots its seats backward 90 degrees, transitioning riders into a horizontal flying position.

The train then dispatches from the station, makes a slight s-bend turn toward the 170 ft chain lift hill. After reaching the top, riders descend 111 ft through a downward right turn reaching a maximum speed of 62 mph. This is followed by an upward right turn into the first inversion, a 103 ft corkscrew. This leads into a downward left turn immediately followed by an upward left turn, and then the train enters a 96 ft zero-gravity roll. Riders then experience a sharp drop followed by an 80 ft horseshoe element. The train makes a left turn and enters a record-breaking 124 ft pretzel loop. This is followed by a slight left turn leading into an inline twist and a 135-degree downward right turn. The train rises back up slightly, leveling out and entering a mid-course brake run. Another series of turns follows, with the train veering downward and then upward to the left, ending at the final brake run and returning to the station.

One cycle of the ride lasts approximately two minutes.

Characteristics

Trains

Tatsu operates with three steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has eight cars that can seat four riders in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. Each seat has its own over-the-shoulder-restraint and a pair of ankle restraints to hold the riders' feet in place. The trains are painted green, yellow, orange, and red.

In the station, the trains are oriented in a vertical position in order to allow riders to board. Once the restraints are locked, the train seats are rotated forward 90 degrees into a horizontal position and the train is then dispatched from the station. When the train returns to the station, the seats rotate back down and the riders disembark for the next guests.

Track

The steel track of Tatsu is 3602 ft long and reaches its maximum height on the lift hill at 170 ft. To slow the train, air brakes are utilized in both brake runs. The coaster opened with red and yellow track with orange supports; it was later repainted to have orange track with green supports.

File:Tatsu station.png|Seats are boarded normally, then rotate 90 degrees into flying position once engaged File:Tatsu, Six Flags Magic Mountain, station platform.ogg File:Tatsu.jpg|Tatsu's 124-foot-tall pretzel loop File:Tatsu, Six Flags Magic Mountain, completing a Pretzel loop.ogv

Reception

Joel Bullock from The Coaster Critic rated Tatsu a nine out of ten for its close-to-the-ground approaches and intense pretzel loop at the bottom of the element. Justice from Park Thoughts also rated the roller coaster a nine out of ten, stating, "The lift hill is one of the most suspenseful I have ever experienced." Both praised the ride's g-forces. In 2006, Discovery Channel's Mega Builders aired an episode which followed the construction of Tatsu. The episode showed how the coaster was assembled and the problems construction crews had to overcome.

In Tatsu's opening year, it was named the 40th best steel roller coaster in the world in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards; tied with Talon at Dorney Park. It peaked at 28th place in 2012.

| access-date = September 8, 2013

References

References

1. (January 4, 2013). "Tatsu". Coaster-Net.
2. "Tatsu". United States Patent and Trademark Office.
3. Six Flags. (November 17, 2005). "The newest Six Flags "Species of Fear" revealed". [[PR Newswire]].
4. After construction and testing was complete, Tatsu opened to the general public on May 13, 2006.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Tatsu|location=Six Flags Magic Mountain|rcdb_number=3305|access-date=December 5, 2025}}
5. "Roller Coaster Search Results—Flying coasters, sorted by height". Roller Coaster Database.
6. "Roller Coaster Search Results—Flying coasters, sorted by length". Roller Coaster Database.
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9. "Roller Coaster Search Results—Flying coasters with Pretzel Loop, sorted by height". Roller Coaster Database.
10. (November 17, 2005). "The newest Six Flags "Species of Fear" revealed". Six Flags Magic Mountain.
11. (December 29, 2009). "Tatsu Front Row Seat on-ride POV Six Flags Magic Mountain". YouTube.
12. "Tatsu: Six Flags Magic Mountain". Six Flags.
13. (May 11, 2006). "Tatsu, The Newest Addition At Six Flags Magic Mountain". ABC 7.
14. {{cite RCDB. link
15. (December 11, 2008). "Scott & Carol Present: Getting On Track With B&M". NewsPlusNotes.
16. "Typical Clermont Steel Fabricators". Clermont Steel Fabricators.
17. Guido, Anna. (November 7, 2005). "Steel plant's business on fast track". Cincinnati Enquirer.
18. Bullock, Joel. (February 15, 2009). "Tatsu @ Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Critic.
19. (March 15, 2010). "Review: Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain". Park Thoughts.
20. (November 6, 2006). "Roller Coaster".