Flashback (Six Flags New England)

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Flashback

Flashback in 2010

Six Flags New England
Location	Agawam, Massachusetts, USA
Coordinates	42°02′24″N 72°36′54″W / 42.040005°N 72.615048°W / 42.040005; -72.615048
Section	North End
Status	Operating since May 5, 2000
Rider height	48 inch minimum
Replaced	Black Widow

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Name	Vampire
Location	Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Coordinates	38°11′48″N 85°44′37″W / 38.196681°N 85.743744°W / 38.196681; -85.743744
Operated	June 13, 1990 to 1999
Replaced by	Skycoaster

Star Lake Amusement Park
Name	Boomerang
Location	Duanzhou, Zhaoqing, Guangdong, China
Operated	1985 to unknown

Statistics

Manufacturer

Vekoma

Product

Boomerang

Type

Steel - Shuttle

Track layout

Boomerang

Hourly capacity

760

Propulsion

Catch car lift
Chain lift hill

Area

288.8 feet × 98.4 feet

Height

116.5 feet

Top speed

47 mph

Length

935 feet

Track inversions

3

Rider inversions

6

Duration

1:48

G-Force

5.2

Rolling stock

Manufacturer

Vekoma (2000-present)
Arrow Dynamics (1985-1999)

Riders per train

28

Flashback is a steel shuttle roller coaster currently located at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA. In the past, the ride has operated at Star Lake Amusement Park and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Built by Vekoma, it is an off-the-shelf Boomerang installation.

History

The ride first opened in 1985 at Star Lake Amusement Park in Guangdong, China. How long it operated at this location is unknown. After its closure, the ride was sent to Kentucky Kingdom where it reopened on June 13, 1990 under the name Vampire with the controversial slogan "Give blood at your local park".^[1] It had red track and purple supports.^[2]

After a string of incidents, the Vampire was closed during the 1999 season and dismantled in December of that year.^[3]^[4]^[5] It was later sent to Six Flags New England.^[6]

An evacuation platform was installed around the cobra roll and a backup brake system was added. The ride was repainted blue with orange rails and supports. On May 5, 2000, the ride reopened as Flashback on the spot previously occupied by the Rotor flat ride and Black Widow, which closed the year before.^[7] For the 2010 season, the ride was repainted red with orange supports.

After the 2010 season, the train was covered in advertisements.

Design

Elements
Catch car lift Cobra roll Vertical loop Chain lift hill

Flashback is a Boomerang installation, an off-the-shelf product from Vekoma.

Layout

The ride consists of a cobra roll and vertical loop. It has two lift hills nearly parallel to each other. When looked at overhead, the layout forms a "V" shape.

Color scheme

Red track and orange supports, used to be blue track with orange rails and supports. Had red track and purple supports when at Kentucky Kingdom. Its colour scheme when at Star Lake is unknown.

Ride experience

The catch-car attaches to the back of the train and pulls it backwards out the station and up the first spike. Upon reaching the top, the catch-car releases the train and riders head down, through the station, cobra roll and vertical loop. Loosing speed, the train travels up the second spike and is caught by the chain lift. Upon reaching the top of the second spike, the train is released. Riders travel through the vertical loop and cobra roll again, this time facing backwards. As the train passes through the station, brakes slow it down.

Trains

Single train with 7 cars. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 28 riders per train. As part of the relocation to Six Flags New England, the original Arrow Dynamics train was replaced with one built by Vekoma.

Incidents

On Wednesday April 7, 1999, the brakes in the station failed, allowing the train to pass through and enter the cobra roll with insufficient speed to complete the element, causing the train to stall. Riders were trapped for several hours and had to be rescued by firefighters.^[8]

On Saturday April 10, 1999, the train stalled again at the bottom of one of the lift hills. This break down was unrelated to the recent incident. Riders were able to disembark the train themselves using platforms at either side of the lift hill.^[9]

On Saturday May 29, 1999, another brake failure caused the train to stall in the cobra roll. After riders were rescued, Vampire closed indefinitely.^[3]