Frisbee (ride)
The Frisbee is an pendulum-motion amusement ride designed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik. The term is often used to describe similar rides built by other companies.
Design and operation
A 14 meter pendulum is suspended between two support frames. Attached to the base of this pendulum is a circular gondola, 8 meters in diameter. 36 to 40 riders (depending on individual design) are seated in the gondola, facing either inwards or outwards.
When the ride cycle starts, the gondola begins to rotate. In addition, the pendulum arm begins to swing through an arc of 170°. Riders experience speeds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) during the ride, and almost 5 positive g forces. Most parks require riders to be 48 inches or taller.
Variants
The success of the Frisbee design prompted HUSS to produce three additional variants. These are:
- Giant Frisbee - The pendulum is extended to 19 metres, and is capable of swinging through a 240° arc. The gondola increases in size, and seats 50 riders, facing outward in suspended seats. The emphasis of the ride is more on the swinging motion than the spinning car.
- Frisbee XL - Similar to the Giant Frisbee, the XL increases the swing arc to 260°, but seats only 40 outward-facing riders.
- Frisbee 34 - Classic Frisbee with another gondola with seats facing outwards.
The success of the Huss Frisbee series has led to numerous other companies producing similar rides, of which the best known are the KMG Afterburner series, which has the same motion but with floorless seating; the Zamperla Discovery, which is similar to the Afterburner, and the Intamin Gyro Swing, which is very similar to the Huss Giant Frisbee.
- KMG: Afterburner, Freak Out, XXL
- Fabbrigroup: Space Jam, Boomerang, Top Swing
- Zamperla: Discovery inwards and outwards, Giant Discovery
- Technical Park: Street Fighter, Typhoon
- Intamin: Gyroswing
- Moserrides: Sidewinder, Sidewinder 12, Giant Sidewinder
- SBF/Visa: Dance Party
- Mondial: Revolution
- etc.
Appearances
- BRASIL - One Giant Fisbee . Uses the name SUPER FRISBEE , in NICOLÂNDIA CENTER PARK , Brasília .
- Australia - One Frisbee. Uses the name The Claw, at Dreamworld, Gold Coast, Australia.
- Belgium - At least one Giant Frisbee. This operates under the name of Sledgehammer, at Bobbejaanland.
- Canada - At least three Frisbee rides, with one called Psyclone, at Canada's Wonderland Ontario, and second called Crazy Beach Party, at Playland, Vancouver, BC and one called "Manitou" at La Ronde in Quebec.
- Denmark - At least one Giant Frisbee. This operates under the name of Svend Singram, at Bon Bon Land.
- Finland - One Frisbee between 2000-2005 at Särkänniemi amusement park.
- Germany - Frisbee Sidekickat the Moviepark, two mobile Frisbees Robrahn/Bremen (Prototyp) and Goetzke/Munich
- Netherlands - Duinrell operates with the name of Mad Mill.
- Norway - At least two, with one Giant Discovery operates with the name of SpinSpider at TusenFryd (operated since 2009). It is the largest of the Frisbee (ride) in the world; height 45 m, 115 km/t and 4,5 G. And second called, Vepsen at Kongeparken, a Huss original Frisbee, operated since 2009.
- South Korea - Hurricane, at EverLand, YongIn, South Korea.
- Spain - At least one Frisbee. This operates under the name of La Máquina, at Parque de atracciones, Madrid, Spain.
- India - At least one Giant Frisbee. This operates under the name of Side Winder, at Adventure Island, Rohini, India.
- Italy - Yukatan, at Cavallino Matto.
- United Kingdom - Pendulus, at Pleasure Island Family Theme Park, Cleethorpes. This is the only Huss Frisbee park model in the UK and about 3 traveling versions.
- United States - At least two Giant Frisbees: Delirium at Kings Island, maXair at Cedar Point. There are also at least six Frisbees: Delirium at California's Great America, "Tazmanian Devil" at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Revolution at Six Flags Great America and at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, The Claw at Hersheypark, "it" at Morey's Piers, Tomahawk at Six Flags New England, Frisbee at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Xtreme Frisbee at Canobie Lake Park, and Frisbee at Adventureland in Farmingdale, New York and The Rattler at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia; there is also a Frisbee in the infield of Daytona International Speedway one more new frisbee ride is in Elysburg, PA at the Knoebels Amusement Park. It is called the Fandango.
References
See also