Yo-Yo (ride)

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The Yo-Yo is a common amusement ride featured in carnivals, state fairs, and similar events. A variation of the Chair-o-plane, it resembles a series of swings arranged in a circle, which turn just fast enough to be slightly affected by centripetal force. On some rides, there is a tilting mechanism, allowing the ride to tilt up to 10 degrees.[1]

1 Ride Motion
2 Seats
3 Appearance
4 Problems
5 Ride Collapse Incident, May 2008
6 Locations
7 See also
8 External links
9 References

[edit] Ride Motion

Unlike the Zierer Wave Swinger, Watkins Swinger, Intamin Flying Dutchman, or Chair-O-Planes, the Yo-Yo has a more intense tilting motion; therefore, the seats feel like they will hit each other during the ride. Because of this, not only is the ride equipped with a standard metal lifting lapbar, but a snug seatbelt around the waist. Extremely large riders may not fit. Most Yo-Yo rides have a passenger height requirement of 46 inches tall or more.

[edit] Seats

The seats each have a lap bar that comes down. Not only that, but because of the tilting, there is a seltbelt that goes around a person's chest area. There are 32 seats to the ride with one seat per row. The seats aren't placed next to each other.

[edit] Appearance

The ride usually says Yo-Yo on the side of the ride. However, sometimes, the Yo-Yo will be removed because of amusement parks wanting their own names. There are flower lights on top of the ride, and the colors for the most part, are very bright. The ride can come in green, yellow, pink, and a white one.

[edit] Problems

The tilting of the ride might be fun for some, but the problem is that the tilting mechanism doesn't always work the way it should. When this occurs, the ride just doesn't tilt. The ride goes up and just stays at the 180 degree mark once it gets to its highest point or it will tilt just a little bit. The Yo-Yo's tilting mechanism is expensive to buy, and thus some companies don't want to a buy a new one.

[edit] Ride Collapse Incident, May 2008

On Friday, May 16, 2008, a Yo-Yo carnival ride at the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angels Camp, The Yo-Yo collapsed injuring all 24 people aboard. The center pole collapsed causing the arms to crash back toward the center. The riders were hurt when their seats struck the ground or other parts of the ride. The cause of the accident was mechanical failure. ^[1]