Flight Deck (California's Great America)

This article is about a roller coaster at California's Great America. For the roller coaster of the same name at Canada's Wonderland, see Flight Deck (Canada's Wonderland). For other roller coasters called Flight Deck, see Flight Deck (disambiguation).

Flight Deck
Previously known as Top Gun (1993–2006) and Soaring Chiefs (2024 opening weekend)
The script text of "Flight Deck" is in white with red outlines in the lettering. A reverberation effect of the words is angled behind the "Flight Deck" in various shades of blue to white. An aircraft carrier's deck is depicted in blue below the lettering, with a control tower located above the "g" and "h". A fighter jet colored blue is seen coming into land between the words, with a fading yellow sunset in the background. A compass circles the aircraft carrier in blue.
An overview image of the Flight Deck roller coaster with red track and white supports. A train is seen ascending the lift hill on the right, with the vertical loop present on the left, and the zero-gravity roll center. Various building and trees are strewn throughout the image.
California's Great America
LocationCalifornia's Great America
Park sectionOrleans Place
Coordinates37°23′53″N 121°58′18″W / 37.39806°N 121.97167°W / 37.39806; -121.97167
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 20, 1993
General statistics
TypeSteel – Inverted
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelInverted Coaster
Height100 ft (30 m)
Drop91 ft (28 m)
Length2,260 ft (690 m)
Speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Inversions3
Duration2:26
G-force4.5
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Flight Deck at RCDB

Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun and briefly as Soaring Chiefs) is a steel inverted roller coaster located at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster made its debut on March 20, 1993, as Top Gun. The roller coaster was built as Paramount, who had purchased the Great America theme park in 1992 along with several other parks, sought to expand its entertainment opportunities and promote its films. After Paramount sold off its Great America park to Cedar Fair, the roller coaster was rebranded as Flight Deck.

Flight Deck reaches a maximum height of 100 ft (30 m), with a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a total track length of 2,260 ft (690 m). The roller coaster was the second Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted model to be built. Originally themed to the Top Gun film, the roller coaster was set on an aircraft carrier with various displays. Upon opening, the roller coaster received mostly positive reviews from critics and guests.