The last of the Vekoma Flying Dutchman roller coasters has finally taken its last flight. Six Flags America has permanently closed Batwing, a move that not only marks the extinction of this rare and fascinating ride model but also signals another step toward the park’s own permanent closure at the end of the season. For coaster fans, it’s a bittersweet farewell—losing a unique type of ride and one of the parks that gave it a home.
It’s official, Batwing at Six Flags America is now permanently closed. The flying coaster thrilled guests from 2001 to 2025, but its run has ended months before the park’s final day of operation on November 2, when the park itself will close permanently.#sixflags #dc #baltimore pic.twitter.com/7yAdkS8yNy
— Coaster Nation (@Coaster_Nation) September 6, 2025
The Flying Dutchman concept launched with Stealth in 2001 at California’s Great America. Soon after came X-Flight at Geauga Lake, Batwing at Six Flags America, and the relocated Borg Assimilator at Carowinds. The model was designed to give riders the sensation of true flight: riders would ascend lying on their backs, then flip forward into a prone position for dives, rolls, and near-ground sweeps that made you feel like Superman cutting through the sky. For its time, there was nothing else like it.
I had the chance to ride two of these rare machines: Firehawk at Kings Island and Borg Assimilator at Carowinds (long before it was rebranded as Nighthawk). Between the two, Firehawk always stood out to me. Its ending sequence flowed better and left a stronger finish, making the final brakes feel earned rather than abrupt. That said, Borg Assimilator was unforgettable in its own way. The Star Trek theme, combined with the dramatic flyover above the water, gave the ride a sense of immersion that Firehawk never quite matched. Firehawk felt like a ship docked at port—solid, dependable, but a little plain—while Borg Assimilator soared with theatrical flair.
Not every memory was flawless. I’ll never forget losing one of my good cameras on Borg Assimilator when it slipped out of my pocket mid-flight—a painful reminder that flying coasters don’t forgive loose items. Still, that moment is forever tied to the thrill of being spun headfirst toward the ground, skimming over water, and flipping back skyward in a way few coasters could deliver.
Unfortunately, the Flying Dutchman design came with trade-offs. The ride’s prone loading system, which rotated riders from back-lying to face-down flight, was mechanically complex and prone to breakdowns. Operations were slow, with dispatch times often dragging. Maintenance proved demanding. Parks eventually decided the Dutchman wasn’t worth the trouble, and one by one, they disappeared.
With Firehawk closing in 2018, Nighthawk following in 2021, and now Batwing shutting down in 2025, the Flying Dutchman is officially extinct.
Flying Dutchman Timeline
- 2001 – Stealth (California’s Great America): Prototype Flying Dutchman. Relocated in 2004 to Carowinds as Borg Assimilator.
- 2001 – X-Flight (Geauga Lake): Later moved to Kings Island and reopened as Firehawk.
- 2002 – Batwing (Six Flags America): The third and final installation, and the last to operate.
- 2004 – Borg Assimilator (Carowinds): Relocated Stealth. Rethemed as Nighthawk in 2008.
- 2018 – Firehawk (Kings Island): Closed and dismantled.
- 2021 – Nighthawk (Carowinds): Closed permanently.
- 2025 – Batwing (Six Flags America): Final Flying Dutchman to close, marking the end of the model’s era.
As Batwing takes its last bow, the sadness stretches beyond just the ride itself. Six Flags America is preparing to close for good at the end of the season, ending decades of thrills for countless families and coaster fans. For those of us who chased the Flying Dutchman across different parks, the closure feels personal—it’s not just the end of a ride model, but the loss of a piece of theme park history.
The Flying Dutchman was never perfect. It was strange, flawed, and finicky—but it was also daring, ambitious, and unforgettable. For fans who were lucky enough to fly on one, it will always be remembered as a bold chapter in roller coaster history that dared to let us soar.
