Boomerang (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boomerang |
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Boomerang at Wild Adventures
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| Status | Discontinued |
| First manufactured | 1984 |
| No. of installations | 55 |
| 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 |
| Duration | About 1 min 48 sec |
| Restraint Style | Over-the-shoulder |
| Inversions | 6 [3 on track, but each run traverses the track twice] |
| Boomerang at RCDB | |
The Boomerang is a popular type of roller coaster. It was created by a company called Vekoma. This coaster is named after the original boomerang, which is a tool that comes back to you.
The very first Boomerang coaster opened in 1984. It was in Puebla, México, and later moved to Six Flags México. Since then, the Boomerang design has become one of the most common roller coasters around the world. By 2011, there were 41 Boomerang coasters running. A few others were either not operating or being built.
How a Boomerang Coaster Works
A Boomerang coaster usually has one train. This train has 7 cars, and each car can hold 4 people. So, a total of 28 people can ride at once.
The ride begins with the train being pulled backwards. It goes up a tall hill. A special "catch-car" pulls it up. When the catch-car reaches the top, it lets go of the train.
Then, the train rolls down the hill. It speeds through the station. Next, it goes through a cool part called a cobra roll. This part looks like a snake's head! After the cobra roll, the train goes through a loop.
Once it finishes the loop, the train connects to a chain. This chain pulls it up a second tall hill. When the train reaches the top of this second hill, the chain moves away. The train then rolls back down the track. It goes through the loop and the cobra roll again, but this time it's going backwards! It's like riding the same track twice in one go.
What if a Boomerang Coaster Stops?
Sometimes, Boomerang coasters have stopped unexpectedly. This often happens in the cobra roll section. To be safe, many Boomerang coasters have a special platform. This platform is built right under the cobra roll. It helps if the ride ever needs to be stopped for safety reasons. Also, sometimes the train can get stuck on the second lift hill.
Images for kids
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Stinger when it was known as Invertigo at California's Great America
See also
In Spanish: Boomerang (modelo de Vekoma) para niños
