Six Flags Great Adventure's new 4D, free-fly coaster The Joker took its first test run on Wednesday. Watch video
JACKSON - The Joker - Six Flags Great Adventure's new 4D, free-fly coaster - took its first test run late afternoon.
Theme park officials called the run, which was captured on video, "flawless."
This dummy, named "Harry", took the first test ride on The Joker - a new 4D, free-fly coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure - on April 27, 2016. (Six Flags Great Adventure) The coaster's first riders were water-filled, plastic dummies that simulated the weight and proportions of human riders. One of the dummies captured point-of-view video of the ride from a chest-mounted GoPro camera.
After being lifted straight up a 12-story, 90-degree hill, The Joker will flip riders head-over-heels at least six times along the seemingly weightless journey.
Thrill seekers will experience leaps and dives along a horizontal plane, as well as unexpected drops as they tumble from one level to the next.
The wing seats will enable rider to experience these drops and flips with no track above or below them - just the sky, ground and adjacent Great Lake churning around them.
Engineers will fine-tune the ride control system and complete extensive testing during the next month, which will be followed by a series of inspections and certification by New Jersey ride inspectors.
The Joker - the second 4D, free-fly coaster of its kind anywhere in the world - is expected to debut to Six Flags Great Adventure guests on Memorial Day weekend.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.