Nighthawk (formerly Borg Assimilator) is a steel flying roller coaster at Carowinds, near Charlotte, North Carolina. It was relocated from California's Great America where it was named Stealth, in 2002. Nighthawk was built by Vekoma of the Netherlands.
Nighthawk replaced the Carolina Sternwheeler Riverboat, one of the park's original attractions. The ride was relocated from California's Great America. It is constructed from 1,102 tons of steel. The ride was originally called The Borg Assimilator, but the right to use the name expired with the 2007 season. The ride was re-themed to Nighthawk for the 2008 season.
As the train pulls into the station, it is lifted into an upright position and is laid back down with riders on their backs as it departs. A small turn exists directly before the 115 foot tall lift. After the lift a gentle sloped, small drop exist directly before the "lie-to-fly" element when riders are first turned into the flying position. In the flying position a large turn about 100 feet in the air brings riders the biggest drop on the ride, although the drop isn't steep. A horseshoe element (resembling an overbanked turn from Intamin) is directly after the small drop followed by a "fly-to-lie" element which is exactly opposite from the "lie-to-fly". After the turn, following the fly-to-lie, riders are taken into a loop preceding another lie-to-fly with a turn. Two corkscrews follow and then the brake run.
On March 17, 2007, seven employees received minor injuries during a pre-season test run when a ride vehicle mechanism failed. The train, containing 16 Carowinds employees at the time, stopped at the base of the vertical loop after the ride's emergency brakes engaged (approximately eight feet above the ground). An inspection discovered that the ride malfunctioned when a ride operator accidentally pushed the button controlling the seat positions while the ride was in motion. That button has been fixed to only operate while the ride is stopped.
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