Flashback (Six Flags Magic Mountain)

Defunct roller coaster

|previousnames=Z Force (1985 1991)

Flashback was a steel roller coaster made by Intamin of Switzerland. The coaster was located in the Six Flags Plaza area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The model of the ride, a Space Diver coaster, was intended to be mass produced, however, Flashback was the only installation.

Flashback first opened in 1985 at Six Flags Great America (at Gurnee, Illinois) as Z Force. It was a prototype Space Diver that was purchased from the Intamin testing facility. In 1987, the ride was closed. The site was later used for a Bolliger & Mabillard stand up roller coaster named Iron Wolf.

Following the ride's closure at Six Flags Great America, it was relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia, west of Atlanta. On July 18, 1989, an 11 year old boy from Talladega, Alabama, became unconscious while riding Z Force. Park staff performed CPR, but the victim was pronounced dead after being taken to HCA Parkway Medical Center. An autopsy failed to pinpoint the cause of death. The ride opened in 1988 before closing three seasons later in 1991. As part of the relocation, the ride was renamed from Z Force to Flashback. Flashback gained a reputation as a painful ride experience. Riders would hit their heads on the uncomfortable restraints during each hairpin dive. In June 1995, Six Flags Magic Mountain opened a water park named Hurricane Harbor right next to the ride. Flashback was so noisy that the lifeguards were distracted, as well as the guests at Hurricane Harbor. Following these complaints, the ride would remain closed from May to September beginning in 1996. Originally, the park stated that Flashback may be re built within the park for 2008, however it was dismantled and scrapped in December 2007.

Flashback was the world's only hairpin drop roller coaster, with 6 head over heels dives and a 540 degree upward spiral. It was also the only Space Dive coaster ever to be built. It was all packed into a relatively small area with 1900 feet (579 m) of track stacked above each other. The drops were severe, producing a free fall experience on the plunges; fast steel switchbacks connected the turns just before trains flew into the gravity defying upward spiral. Trains reached a max of , with a 3 g force on the one and a half minute ride.

Throughout its life, Flashback's track was painted blue with white supports. The style of track used on this coaster became the signature track style of coasters built by Bolliger & Mabillard.

The ride featured three trains, each with five cars. Each car featured riders arranged 4 across for a total of 20 riders per train. The trains were manufactured by Giovanola. When Flashback was known as Z Force, the trains were painted all blue with a navy blue stripe running down on the sides of the train. The restraints were also blue. After its relocation to Six Flags Magic Mountain, Flashback's trains were repainted red with a white chassis and a white stripe on the sides of each car. The restraints were also repainted orange.