Euro-Fighter

The Euro-Fighter is Gerstlauer's signature compact coaster model, immediately recognisable by its vertical chain lift (which pulls the train straight upward like a tower) and its first drop of 90 degrees or beyond-vertical (up to 97 degrees). Designed for parks with limited space, Euro-Fighters pack intense thrills — multiple inversions, tight turns, and high G-forces — into a very small area. The beyond-vertical drop is particularly notable: the train pauses at the top of the vertical lift with riders leaning out over the void before plunging past the vertical plane.

European Euro-Fighters include Saw – The Ride at Thorpe Park, Rage at Adventure Island (Southend-on-Sea), and Fluch von Novgorod at Hansa-Park in Germany. The compact nature of the design has made Euro-Fighters a popular choice for parks in urban settings or with irregular terrain, and the beyond-vertical first drop has become one of the most talked-about single moments in mid-scale coaster design.