Kingda Ka, found in Six Flags Adventure Park, Jackson, N.J., is the world's tallest steel roller coaster. At its highest point, the Top Hat Tower, the ride reaches 456 feet. When it first opened in 2004, Kingda Ka was the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the world. Its hydraulic launch mechanism fires the train along the track, reaching speeds of up to 206 kph in only 3.5 seconds. Kingda Ka also holds the record for the tallest drop at 418 feet.
Son of Beast holds the world record for the tallest roller coaster constructed from wood and is located at King's Island, near Cincinnati, Ohio. When the ride was first introduced in 2000, Son of Beast was the only wooden roller coaster in the top ten world rankings for size or speed. This ride was also the only wooden roller coaster to feature a vertical loop as part of its track, until its removal in 2006 after an incident in which 27 people were injured.
Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi is the world's fastest roller coaster. The Formula Rossa uses a hydraulic launch system to propel its passengers to a speed of 240 kph in only 4.9 seconds. This level of acceleration is similar to that experienced by pilots launching from aircraft carrier steam catapults. Passengers sitting in the front seats must wear eye protection to prevent injury from particles and flying insects.
Holding the record for the world's steepest roller coaster is Mumbo Jumbo, found at the Flamingo Land resort in the United Kingdom. The maximum vertical angle on the track drops its passengers down a 112-degree slope. Coaster fans riding Mumbo Jumbo are subjected to forces of up to 4G, similar to those experienced by fighter jet pilots.
