Giant Inverted Boomerang - Problems

Problems

Six Flags had originally ordered four Giant Inverted Boomerangs in 2001 (the three Déjà Vu coasters in U.S.A. and Stunt Fall at Warner Bros. Movie World in Madrid, Spain). However, following the installation of the 3 Déjà Vu coasters and the discovery of several problems, Six Flags allowed Vekoma to resolve these problems before installation of their fourth coaster, Stunt Fall. Vekoma has since upgraded the original three rides to use this system.

One problem was clearance between the riders and the track overhead. After the trains were mounted to the track, it was quickly discovered that riders could reach and touch the track while the train was in motion, posing the risk of injury. Vekoma had to improvise, adding new bars to the original shoulder restraint to prevent guests from reaching up too high.

During initial testing on Six Flags Over Georgia's Déjà Vu, the catch car (a small device that catches and holds the train) on the first tower derailed, breaking parts and destroying the components of the train beyond economical repair. The ride received a replacement train shortly after.

During tests it was discovered that trains would stall in the middle of the cobra roll. Unplanned, the parks installed emergency unloading scaffolding in this location, similar to other Boomerang roller coasters.

Another problem of the ride is the locking mechanism for the shoulder restraints. The Giant Inverted Boomerangs require the use of a battery pack to unlock each restraint in the event of a power loss. Virtually all other roller coasters have a quick manual release system to unload in unusual locations or emergency situations.

Some riders complained that the restraints give too much room for the riders to "fall forward" during the lift. People who were barrel-chested, overweight or obese complained of chest compressions during the moments that they were on the main lift. Another problem with the restraints was that sometimes the belt attached to the bottom of the restraint would detach from the restraint posing a greater risk that if the restraint lock would somehow malfunction there would be nothing else to keep the rider from falling out of their seat.

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