Boomerang (roller coaster)

Boomerang is a model of roller coaster manufactured and designed by Vekoma, a Dutch manufacturer. The roller coaster model name is from the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians. Template:As of there are 55 Boomerangs operating.

The roller coaster model was created in the early 1980s and was first introduced at four different parks around the world in 1984.

Design and ride experience

Boomerang's layout design

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 number 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 many 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.

During the reverse cycle, riders experience a g force of up to 5.2 when the train re-enters the vertical loop at Template:Convert. In back row of the trainTemplate:Sndthe first to enter the loopTemplate:Sndthis represents one of the most forceful moments seen in steel rollercoaster design.

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

Template:Main 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 in Gothenburg, Sweden 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

Template:Main 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 Template:Convert longer, the two lift hills are almost Template:Convert taller and both hills are vertical. As of 2022, four Giant Inverted Boomerangs operate and one was under construction.

Family Boomerang

In late 2010, Vekoma announced that they would be manufacturing a family-friendly model of the Boomerang. The prototype opened at Drayton Manor Theme Park, as "Ben 10Template:SndUltimate Mission", in April 2011; it was later renamed to Accelerator. Another model debuted on 17 May 2016 as “Velociraptor”, in the ‘Lost Kingdom’ themed area of Paultons Park. Unlike the other Boomerang roller coasters, a Family Boomerang does not feature inversions, but it still retains a similar shuttle design. The ride features the two signature end-spikes on (more or less) a figure-8 track layout. Phantasialand added the world's largest family boomerang, “Raik”, in 2016. This debuted in the new themed area of ‘Klugheim’, accompanying the adjacent Taron (an Intamin Blitz coaster).

Super Boomerang

In 2023, a new variant of the Boomerang model opened in Fantawild Wonderland in China. This version uses a launch system rather than a catch car lift hill and has a longer layout and fewer inversions than the normal boomerang and is more similar to rides such as Mr. Freeze and the now defunct Batman & Robin: The Chiller, though it has a swing launch rather then a stationary launch.

Ride locations

Coaster name	Amusement park	Variant	Original opening	Status
Accelerator Formerly Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission	Drayton Manor Theme Park	Family Boomerang Template:Cvt	2011	Template:Yes
Aftershock Formerly Déjà Vu	Silverwood Theme Park Six Flags Great America	Giant Inverted Boomerang	2008 2001	Template:Yes Closed 2007
Anaconda	Luna Park, Tel Aviv	Boomerang	2000	Template:Yes
The Bat	Canada's Wonderland	Boomerang	1987	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Bellewaerde	Boomerang	1984	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Elitch Gardens Theme Park	Boomerang	1999	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Energylandia	Family Boomerang Rebound	2017	Template:Yes
Boomerang	E-World	Boomerang	1995	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Freizeit-Land Geiselwind	Boomerang	2000	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Fantasilandia	Boomerang	1996	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Gero Land	Boomerang	1997	Template:Yes
Boomerang	La Ronde	Boomerang	1984	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Parc des Combes	Family Boomerang Template:Cvt	2011	Template:Yes
Búmeran	Parque Diversiones Costa Rica	Boomerang	2012	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Parque de la Costa	Boomerang	1998	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Siam Park City Jerudong Park Playground	Boomerang	2007 1996	Template:Yes Closed 2006
Boomerang	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	Boomerang	1999	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Six Flags Mexico Rafaela Padilla	Boomerang	1987 1984	Template:Yes Closed 1986
Boomerang Formerly Flashback	Six Flags St. Louis Six Flags Over Texas	Boomerang	2013 1989	Template:Yes Closed 2012
Boomerang	Trans Studio Bali, Indonesia Pleasure Island Family Theme Park	Boomerang	2019 1993	Template:Yes Closed 2016
Boomerang	Walygator Sud-Ouest Zygo Park	Boomerang	1992 1987	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Wiener Prater	Boomerang	1992	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Wild Adventures	Boomerang	1998	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Worlds of Fun	Boomerang	2000	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Family Fun Tivoli Karolinelund	Boomerang	2015 2005	Template:Yes Closed 2010
Boomerang (飞旋过山车)	Wuhan Zhongshan Park	Boomerang	2017	Template:Yes
Boomerang	Yerevan Park	Family Boomerang Rebound	2021	Template:Yes
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster	Six Flags Darien Lake	Boomerang	1998	Template:Yes
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster	Six Flags Discovery Kingdom	Boomerang	1998	Template:Yes
Boomerang Hyper Coaster Formerly Boomerang	Trans Studio Cibubur, Indonesia Knott's Berry Farm	Boomerang	2019 1990	Template:Yes Closed 2017
Boomerang Roller Coaster	Amrapali Funland	Family Boomerang Template:Cvt	2014	Template:Yes
Boomerang-Roller Coaster	Al-Shallal Theme Park	Boomerang	2004	Template:Yes
Búmeran Formerly Boomerang	Parque Diversiones Playcenter São Paulo	Boomerang	2012 1997	Template:Yes Closed 2012
Bumerang	Tashkentland	Boomerang	1995	Template:Yes
Cobra	PowerPark	Boomerang	2005	Template:Yes
Cobra	Walibi Belgium	Boomerang	2001	Template:Yes
Cloud Shuttle	Fantawild Wonderland Tongshan	Super Boomerang	2023	Template:Yes
Diabolik Formerly Two-Face: The Flip Side	Movieland Park Six Flags America	Invertigo	2015 1999	Template:Yes Closed 2007
Family Coaster (合家欢过山车)	Happy Valley	Family Boomerang	2017	Template:Yes
FamilyBoomerang RollerCoaster	Happy Valley	Boomerang	2020	Template:Yes
Fireball	Furuvik	Family Boomerang	2017	Template:Yes
Flashback Formerly Vampire Formerly Boomerang	Six Flags New England Kentucky Kingdom Nanhu Amusement Park	Boomerang	2000 1990 1985	Template:Yes Closed 1999 Closed late 1980s–early 1990s
Flashback Formerly Boomerang: Coast to Coaster	Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor	Boomerang	1997	Template:Yes
The Flying Cobras Formerly Carolina Cobra Formerly Head Spin/Mind Eraser	Carowinds Geauga Lake	Boomerang	2009 1996	Template:Yes Closed 2007
Frontline Charge (火线 追击)	Fanta Park Glorious Orient Ningbo	Family Boomerang Rebound	2021	Template:Yes
Frontline Charge (火线 追击)	Fanta Park Glorious Orient Ganzhou	Family Boomerang Rebound	2021	Template:Yes
Generator	Walibi Rhône-Alpes	Boomerang	1988	Template:Yes
Giant Inverted Boomerang (巅峰一号)	Jin Jiang Action Park	Giant Inverted Boomerang	2011	Template:Yes
Goliath Formerly Déjà Vu	Six Flags New England Six Flags Magic Mountain	Giant Inverted Boomerang	2012 2001	Template:No Closed 2011
High Speed Round Trip	Bao Son Paradise Park	Family Boomerang Rebound	2019	Template:Yes
Invertigo Formerly Face/Off)	Kings Island	Invertigo	1999	Template:Yes
Jolly Rancher Remix Formerly Sidewinder	Hersheypark	Boomerang	1991	Template:Yes
Light Explorers	Energylandia	Family Boomerang Spirit	2021	Template:Yes
London Loop	Global Village	Family Boomerang	2017	Template:Yes
Luna	Liseberg	Family Boomerang	2023	Template:Yes
Pine Tree Rocket (飞跃狗熊岭)	Oriental Heritage, Shanxi	Family Boomerang Rebound	2021	Template:Yes
Pine Tree Rocket (飞跃狗熊岭)	Fantawild Land	Family Boomerang Rebound	2021	Template:Yes
Quantum Leap	Sochi Park	Giant Inverted Boomerang	2014	Template:Yes
Ragin' Cajun Formerly Boomerang	Dixie Landing' Hafan y Môr Holiday Park	Boomerang	2001 1987	Template:Yes Closed 1998
Raik	Phantasialand	Family Boomerang	2016	Template:Yes
Recoil Formerly Thunderbolt	Wonderla Amusement Park Bangalore Aladdin's Kingdom	Boomerang	2016 1994	Template:Yes Closed 2009
Recoil Formerly Zoomerang Formerly Demon Formerly Titan	Wonderla Amusement Park Hyderabad Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure Wonderland Sydney World Expo Park	Boomerang	2016 2005 1992 1988	Template:Yes Closed 2011 Closed 2004 Closed 1988
Recoil Formerly Colossus	Wonderla Amusement Park Kochi Habtoorland	Boomerang	2017 2004	Template:Yes Closed 2011
Saven	Fårup Sommerland	Family Boomerang Spirit	2020	Template:Yes
Sea Serpent	Morey's Piers	Boomerang	1984	Template:Yes
Snow Slope	Lusail Winter Wonderland	Family Boomerang Rebound	2022	Template:Yes
Space Shuttle Max Formerly Cobra	Enchanted Kingdom West Midland Safari Park	Boomerang	1995 1985	Template:Yes Closed 1991
Spartan Race (Chúa tể đấu trường) Formerly Flying Dolphin Coaster	VinWonders Phú Quốc	Family Boomerang Template:Cvt	2015	Template:Yes
Speed of Sound Formerly La Via Volta	Walibi Holland	Boomerang	2000	Template:Yes
Stinger Formerly Invertigo	Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom California's Great America	Invertigo	2012 1998	Template:No Closed 2010
Stress Express	Fantawild Dreamland, Fujian	Boomerang	2013	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Fantawild Adventure	Boomerang	2012	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Oriental Heritage Jinan	Boomerang	2015	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Fantawild Dreamland, Hunan	Boomerang	2016	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Oriental Heritage Jiujiang	Boomerang	2015	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Oriental Heritage Cixi	Boomerang	2016	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Fantawild Asian Legend	Boomerang	2018	Template:Yes
Stress Express	Silk Road Dreamland	Boomerang	2019	Template:Yes
Stunt Fall	Parque Warner Madrid	Giant Inverted Boomerang	2002	Template:Yes
Tidal Wave	Trimper's Rides	Boomerang	1986	Template:Yes
Triops Formerly Tornado Formerly Unknown Formerly HangOver	Bagatelle Sommerland Syd Allou Fun Park Liseberg	Invertigo	2012 2005 Never opened> 1997	Template:Yes Closed 2011 Never opened Closed 2002
Turbo Dino (角龙战车)	Zigong Fantawild Dinosaur Kingdom	Family Boomerang Rebound	2022	Template:Yes
Tweestryd	Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen	(Double) Family Boomerang	2018	Template:Yes
Velociraptor	Paulton's Park	Family Boomerang	2016	Template:Yes
Volldampf	Erlebnispark Tripsdrill	Family Boomerang	2020	Template:Yes
Whirly Roller Coaster Formerly Boomerang	Floraland Continent Park Qingdao International Beer City	Boomerang	2015 1995	Template:Yes Closed 2010
Wipeout Formerly Missile Formerly Coca-Cola Roller	Pleasurewood Hills The American Adventure Theme Park Glasgow Garden Festival	Boomerang	2007 1989 1988	Template:Yes Closed 2004 Closed 1988
Zoomerang	Lake Compounce	Boomerang	1997	Template:Yes
The Quest	Emerald Park	Family Boomerang Spirit	2024	Template:Yes
Zydeco Scream Formerly Boomerang	Six Flags New Orleans Parc de Montjuic	Boomerang	2000 1990	Template:No Closed 1998
Template:N/A	Fantawild, Mudan	Family Boomerang Rebound	2023	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Fantawild, Rencheng	Family Boomerang Rebound	2023	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Fantawild, Liangyuan	Family Boomerang Rebound	2023	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Oriental Heritage, Henan	Family Boomerang Rebound	2024	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Oriental Heritage, Jiangxi	Family Boomerang Rebound	2024	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Fantawild, Yunnan	Family Boomerang Rebound	2024	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Fantawild, Jiangsu	Family Boomerang Rebound	2024	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A	Warner Bros. Movie World	(Double) Family Boomerang	2024	Template:Maybe
Template:N/A Formerly Déjà Vu	Mirabilandia Six Flags Over Georgia	Giant Inverted Boomerang	TBD 2001	Template:No Closed 2007
THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity	Six Flags Great Adventure	Super Boomerang	2024	Template:Maybe

See also

• Invertigo (roller coaster)
• Giant Inverted Boomerang

External links

• Listing of Boomerang roller coasters at RCDB
• Listing of Invertigo roller coasters at RCDB
• Listing of Giant Inverted Boomerang roller coasters at RCDB
• Detailed Technical Article about Boomerang Roller Coasters
• Boomerang official website
• Family Boomerang official website