Boomerang (roller coaster)

Boomerang

Boomerang at Pleasure Island
Status In Production
First manufactured 1984
No. of installations 45
Manufacturer Vekoma
Height 35.51 m (116.5 ft)
Length 285 m (935 ft)
Speed 47 mph (76 km/h)
G force 5.2
Capacity 760 riders per hour
Vehicles 1
Riders per vehicle 28
Duration About 1:48 minutes
Restraint Style Over-the-shoulder
Inversions 6
For a roller coaster inversion called Boomerang, see Cobra roll

Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians. As of 2012 there are 45 Boomerangs operating.

Design and ride experience

The Boomerang consists of a single train with seven cars, capable of carrying 28 passengers. The ride begins when the train is pulled backwards from the station and up the first lift hill by a catchcar. After being released, the train passes through the station, enters a Cobra roll element (referred to as a boomerang by the designers), and then travels through a vertical loop. After being pulled up a second lift hill, the train is released to head backwards through each inversion once more, making the total amount of inversions per ride six. The train slows down as it passes through the station backwards, and then comes to a complete stop in the station. This coaster model is popular among Six Flags and Herschend amusement parks in the United States, but it has appeared at amusement parks around the world.

Boomerang coasters have occasionally stalled, often in the Cobra Roll element. As a precaution, many Boomerang coasters are built with an access platform just under the Cobra Roll/Boomerang element.

Variant designs

There are three main design variants based on the Boomerang layout, all of which are produced by Vekoma.

Stinger when it was known as Invertigo at California's Great America

Invertigo

The first variant of the Boomerang is the Invertigo. While retaining the same layout as the Boomerang, the Invertigo has inverted track, turning it into an inverted roller coaster. Each car has two rows of seats that are back-to-back, so the riders in the back row of each car would be facing those in the front of the trailing car. The first Invertigo, HangOver at Liseberg, was supposed to open in 1996 with a new linear induction motor (LIM) or LSM lift. However, development problems delayed the ride's opening to 1997, and the design was remade to include a traditional chain lift like the original Boomerang. Only four Invertigo models were ever built.

Giant Inverted Boomerang

Stunt Fall at Parque Warner Madrid is one of five Giant Inverted Boomerangs built

The second design is known as both the Giant Inverted Boomerang and the Super Invertigo. While maintaining a similar layout to the Boomerang, the track is again inverted, and the size of the ride is increased. The track is 270 feet (82 m) longer, the two lift hills are almost 80 feet (24 m) taller, and both hills are vertical. The track also crosses over, with the station underneath the vertical loop. The train has 8 cars, with the four seats of each car arranged in a chevron. As of 2011, four Giant Inverted Boomerangs operate, and one is currently under construction. The ones that operate currently are Goliath at Six Flags New England (Previously located at Six Flags Magic Mountain as Déjà Vu), Aftershock at Silverwood Theme Park (Previously located at Six Flags Great America as Déjà Vu), and Stunt Fall at Parque Warner Madrid. Sky Mountain at Mirabalandia (Previously located at Six Flags Over Georgia as Déjà Vu) is currently in storage. In late 2011, the first Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang to have been built brand new in about ten years opened. It resides at Jinjiang Action Park under the name Mountain Peak.

Family Boomerang

In late 2010, Vekoma announced that they would be manufacturing a Family Boomerang. The prototype opened in Drayton Manor Theme Park as Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission in April 2011.[1] Unlike the other Boomerang roller coasters a Family Boomerang does not feature any inversions but it still has a similar shuttle design. The ride has two end spikes and generally a figure-8 design in the layout.

Layouts

Layouts of the different variations
Boomerang
Boomerang
Invertigo
Invertigo
Giant Inverted Boomerang
Giant Inverted Boomerang

Ride locations

Coaster name Amusement park Variant Original opening Status
Aftershock
Formerly Déjà Vu
Silverwood Theme Park
Six Flags Great America
Giant Inverted Boomerang 2001 Operating [2][3]
The Bat Canada's Wonderland Boomerang 1987 Operating [4]
Ben 10 – Ultimate Mission Drayton Manor Theme Park Family Boomerang 2011 Operating [5]
Boomerang La Ronde Boomerang 1984 Operating [6]
Boomerang Pleasure Island Boomerang 1993 Operating [6]
Boomerang Bellewaerde Boomerang 1984 Operating [7]
Boomerang Knott's Berry Farm Boomerang 1990 Operating [8]
Boomerang Parc Touristique des Combes Family Boomerang 2011 Operating [9]
Boomerang Six Flags Mexico Boomerang 1987 Operating [10]
Boomerang
Formerly Flashback
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags Over Texas
Boomerang 1989 Operating [11][12]
Boomerang Walibi Sud-Ouest Boomerang 1992 Operating
Boomerang Wild Adventures Boomerang 1998 Operating [13]
Boomerang Worlds of Fun Boomerang 2000 Operating [14]
Boomerang Siam Park City Boomerang 2007 Operating
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster Darien Lake Boomerang 1998 Operating [15]
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster Elitch Gardens Theme Park Boomerang 1999 Operating [16]
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster (A.K.A. "The Stride" as many rides here were sponsored) Great Escape Boomerang 1997 Operating [17]
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Boomerang 1998 Operating [18]
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster Six Flags Fiesta Texas Boomerang 1999 Operating [19]
Carolina Cobra
Formerly Head Spin/ "Mind Eraser"
Carowinds
Geauga Lake
Boomerang 1996 Operating [20][21]
Cobra PowerPark Boomerang 2005 Operating
Flashback
Formerly Vampire
Formerly Boomerang
Six Flags New England
Kentucky Kingdom
Nanhu Amusement Park
Boomerang 1985 Operating [22][23][24]
Goliath
Formerly Déjà Vu
Six Flags New England
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Giant Inverted Boomerang 2001 Operating [25][26][27]
Invertigo (Formerly known as "Face/Off") Kings Island Invertigo 1999 Operating [28]
Mountain Peak Jinjiang Action Park Giant Inverted Boomerang 2011 Operating [29]
Ragin' Cajun
Formerly Boomerang
Dixie Landing'
Hafan y Môr Holiday Park
Boomerang 1987 Operating [30]
Sea Serpent Morey's Piers Boomerang 1984 Operating [31]
Sidewinder Hersheypark Boomerang 1991 Operating [32]
Sky Mountain
Formerly Déjà Vu
Mirabilandia
Six Flags Over Georgia
Giant Inverted Boomerang 2001 In Storage [33][34]
Space Shuttle Max
Formerly Cobra
Enchanted Kingdom
West Midland Safari Park
Boomerang 1995 Operating [35][36]
Speed of Sound
Formerly La Via Volta
Walibi Holland Boomerang 2000 Operating [37]
Stinger
Formerly Invertigo
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
California's Great America
Invertigo 1998 Operating [38][39]
Stunt Fall Parque Warner Madrid Giant Inverted Boomerang 2002 Operating [40]
Tidal Wave Trimper's Rides Boomerang 1986 Operating [41]
Triops
Formerly Tornado
Formerly unknown
Formerly HangOver
Bagatelle
Sommerland Syd
Allou Fun Park
Liseberg
Invertigo 1997 Operating [42][43][44][45]
Diabolik
Formerly Two-Face: The Flip Side
Movieland Park
Six Flags America
Invertigo 1999 Operating[46]
Wipeout
Formerly Missile
Formerly Coca-Cola Roller
Pleasurewood Hills
The American Adventure Theme Park
Glasgow Garden Festival
Boomerang 1988 Operating [47][48][49]
Zoomerang
Formerly The Demon
Formerly Titan
Alabama Adventure
Wonderland Sydney
World Expo Park
Boomerang 1988 Defunct from 2011 [50][51][52]
Zoomerang Lake Compounce Boomerang 1997 Operating [53]
Zydeco Scream
Formerly Boomerang
Six Flags New Orleans
Parc de Montjuic
Boomerang 1990 SBNO since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 [54][55]
Boomerang Freizeit-Land Geiselwind Boomerang 2000 Operating [53]
Speed of Sound Sky Ranch Tagaytay Boomerang 2014 Construction
Boomerang Fantasilandia Boomerang 1996 Operating
Boomerang Parque de la Costa Boomerang 1998 Operating

References

  1. http://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/park-guide.php?sub=new-for-2011
  2. Marden, Duane. "Déjà Vu  (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  3. Marden, Duane. "Aftershock  (Silverwood Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  4. Marden, Duane. "Bat  (Canada's Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  5. Marden, Duane. "Ben 10 – Ultimate Mission  (Drayton Manor)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  6. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (La Ronde)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  7. Marden, Duane. " (Bellewaerde Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Knott's Berry Farm)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Parc Touristique des Combes)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Six Flags Mexico)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  11. http://content.sixflags.com/newfor2013/stlouis/boomerang/
  12. Marden, Duane. "Flashback  (Six Flags Over Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  13. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Wild Adventures)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  14. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Worlds of Fun)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang Coast to Coaster  (Darien Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Elitch Gardens)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  17. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang Coast to Coaster  (Great Escape)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  18. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang Coast to Coaster  (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  20. Marden, Duane. "Carolina Cobra  (Carowinds)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  21. Marden, Duane. "Head Spin  (Geauga Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  22. Marden, Duane. "Flashback  (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  23. Marden, Duane. "Vampire  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  24. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Nanhu Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  25. Marden, Duane. "Déjà Vu  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  26. MacDonald, Brady (19 August 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain to remove Deja Vu coaster". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  27. MacDonald, Brady (1 September 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 1 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  28. Marden, Duane. "Invertigo  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  29. Marden, Duane. "Mountain Peak  (Jinjiang Action Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  30. Marden, Duane. "Ragin' Cajun  (Dixie Landing')". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  31. Marden, Duane. "Sea Serpent  (Morey's Piers)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  32. Marden, Duane. "Sidewinder  (Hersheypark)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  33. Marden, Duane. "Déjà Vu  (Six Flags Over Georgia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  34. Marden, Duane. "Sky Mountain  (Mirabilandia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  35. Marden, Duane. "Space Shuttle  (Enchanted Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  36. Marden, Duane. "Cobra  (West Midland Safari Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  37. Marden, Duane. "Speed of Sound  (Walibi Holland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  38. Marden, Duane. "Stinger  (Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  39. Marden, Duane. "Invertigo  (California's Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  40. Marden, Duane. "Stunt Fall  (Parque Warner Madrid)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  41. Marden, Duane. "Tidal Wave  (Trimper's Rides)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  42. Marden, Duane. "Triops  (Bagatelle)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  43. Marden, Duane. "Tornado  (Sommerland Syd)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  44. Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Allou Fun Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  45. Marden, Duane. "HangOver  (Liseberg)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  46. Marden, Duane. "Diabolik  (Movieland Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  47. Marden, Duane. "Wipeout  (Pleasurewood Hills)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  48. Marden, Duane. "Missile  (American Adventure Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  49. Marden, Duane. "Coca-Cola Roller  (Glasgow Garden Festival)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  50. Marden, Duane. "Zoomerang  (Alabama Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  51. Marden, Duane. "Demon  (Wonderland Sydney)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  52. Marden, Duane. "Titan  (World Expo Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  53. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Zoomerang  (Lake Compounce)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  54. Marden, Duane. "Zydeco Scream  (Six Flags New Orleans)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  55. Marden, Duane. "Boomerang  (Parc de Montjuic)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boomerang (roller coaster model).
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, February 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.