Galactica was designed by John Wardley, who has created some of the world's wildest rides, including Oblivion. Originally built as Secret Weapon 5, our 'Aerial Inversion Ride' (AIR) was the first flying roller coaster at Alton Towers Resort.

"Secret Weapon 5" (SW5) is the codename for the world-famous roller coaster Air, which was later rebranded as Galactica at Alton Towers Resort in the UK. Developed by the legendary ride designer John Wardley and manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), it opened in 2002 as the world's first dedicated flying roller coaster. The "Secret Weapon" series is a tradition at Alton Towers for their most innovative and "first-of-its-kind" attractions (following SW3: Nemesis and SW4: Oblivion). SW5 was unique because it focused on the sensation of flight rather than pure terror, utilizing a mechanism that tilts the seats 90 degrees forward so passengers face the ground. In 2016, the ride was outfitted with virtual reality headsets and renamed Galactica to simulate a journey through space, though it later reverted to a more traditional experience with a mix of its original "Air" themes. Even in 2026, it remains a favorite for its smooth, "graceful" motion, representing a pivotal moment in theme park engineering where comfort and innovative positioning were prioritized over high-G force maneuvers.