Ninja (Six Flags St. Louis)

Ninja is an Arrow Dynamics/Vekoma steel roller coaster at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. The ride features a loop, a sidewinder, and a double corkscrew. It was originally built for and located at Expo '86 in Vancouver, B.C., operating as Scream Machine from May to October 1986. It began operating as Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis in 1989. The coaster was started by Arrow Dynamics, but when Arrow fell into bankruptcy it was sold to Vekoma, who finished it. The ride is formerly shared a name with Blue Hawk at Six Flags Over Georgia until that coaster's retheming in 2016. Another roller coaster with the same name exists at Six Flags Magic Mountain, but that ride is an Arrow Dynamics suspended swinging coaster. The Ninja, like most modern roller coasters, requires a minimum of two employees to dispatch the train. One operates the main panel, which controls the restraints, gates, and has a section for the mechanics. The other operator stands at the remote enable. Both operators have to do an all clear sweep and thumbs up, then press their buttons at the same time.Virtual RealitySix Flags announced on March 3, 2016, that Ninja would be among the several rides at various Six Flags parks that would receive a virtual reality (VR) upgrade. Riders have the option to wear Samsung Gear VR headsets, powered by Oculus, to create a 360-degree, 3D experience while riding. The illusion is themed to a fighter jet, where riders fly through a futuristic city as co-pilots battling alien invaders. The feature debuted with the coaster, when it reopened on May 27, 2016.