Swing ride
The swing ride or chair swing ride (sometimes called a swing carousel, wave swinger, yo-yo, waver swinger, Chair-O-Planes, Dodo or swinger) is an
History
The-Chair-O-Planes premiered in Germany in 1972, designed by Zierer and built by Franz Schwarzkopf, brother of Anton Schwarzkopf. In 1974 the first portable unit debuted under the same partnership. Since then Zierer has built about 200 units.[1] Other manufacturers have followed creating their own versions of the Chair-O-Planes, including Zamperla, Chance Rides, Grover Watkins, Bertazzon, Preston & Barbieri, Vekoma, and Sanoyas Hishino Meisho.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
In the late 2000s,
Locations
Europe
Austria
The Prater Turm located in the Wurstelprater in Vienna opened in 2010 at a height of 117 metres (384 ft).
Denmark
The Star Flyer, located in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, affords sweeping views of the city's historical centre. The Swing Carousel also located in Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen.
France
Les Chaises Volantes in Walibi Sud-Ouest is a Zierer model from 1987 which was relocated to the park in 1992.
Germany
In Germany, swing rides are often found on fairs, Volksfests like the Oktoberfest and traveling funfairs. But swing rides are also common in amusement parks. Most of the German swing rides are from Zierer.
Some of these include:
- Africa Swing – Safariland Stukenbrock (Wooddesign Amusement Rides BV)
- Fliegenpilz – Eifelpark (Zierer)
- Flying Carousel – Wunderland Kalkar (Zamperla)
- Himmelsstürmer – Taunus Wunderland (Zierer)
- La Ola – Heide Park (Zierer)
- Kettenflieger – Fränkisches Wunderland
- Kettenflieger – Hansa-Park Wooddesign Amusement Rides BV
- Kettenkarussell – Ritter Rost Magic Park Verden
- Kettenkarussell – Schwaben Park
- Kettenkarussell – Skyline Park (Zierer)
- Königsflug – Bayern-Park (Zierer)
- Pier Side Carousel – Movie Park Germany (Zierer)
- Sea Swing – Movie Park Germany (Zamperla)
- Wellenflieger – Fort Fun Abenteuerland (Zierer)
- Wellenflieger – Freizeit-Land Geiselwind (Zierer)
- Wellenfliegerpilz – Erlebnispark Steinau an der Straße (Zierer)
- Wellenflug – Holiday Park (Wooddesign Rides B. V.)
- Wellenflug – Phantasialand (Zierer)
- Wiener Wellenflieger – Europa-Park (Zierer)
- Wirbelpilz – Erlebnispark Tripsdrill (Zierer)
- Zonga Kettenflieger – Serengeti Park (SBF Visa)
Italy
In
Netherlands
Attractiepark Slagharen located the same Chair-O-Plane as Loundoun Castle.
Some Swing rides in the Netherlands:
- Djinn – Toverland (Wooddesign Rides B. V.)
- K3 Slingermolen – Plopsa Indoor Coevorden
- Kettenflug Apollo – Attractiepark Slagharen (Schwarzkopf)
- Piraat Enterhaak! – Avonturenpark Hellendoorn (Zierer)
- Super Swing – Walibi Holland (Zierer)
Norway
The second-largest amusement park within the
At Kongeparken (lit. ‘the royal park’), located 10 km outside the third-largest city in Norway, Stavanger, is a Wellenflieger named Spinnvidle (“spin-wheel”) that has been in-operation since 2012. Spinnvidle is the first of its kind in Norway with double seats.
Sweden
The Swedish name for Swing ride is Slänggunga or Kättingflygare. At Gröna Lund, Stockholm, a swing ride with the name "Eclipse" can be found. With its 121.9 metres (400 ft), it shares the "world's second tallest" title with SkyScreamer in Texas, North America.[12][13]
The biggest amusement park in the Nordic countries is Liseberg, in Sweden's second largest city Gothenburg. Liseberg is the home of a Swing ride named "Slänggungan".
Spain
- Diavolo – Tibidabo (Zierer)
- Fumanchú (Defunct) – Port Aventura(Zierer)
- Los Ícaros – Terra Mítica (Zierer)
- Sillas Voladoras – Parque de Atracciones de Madrid (Zierer)
- Sillas Voladoras de Mr. Freeze – Parque Warner Madrid (Zierer)
- Star Flyer – Parque de Atracciones de Madrid (Funtime)
- Vertical Twister – Parque de Atracciones de Zaragoza (Zamperla)
United Kingdom
Until 2016, there was a Chair-O-Plane ride at
You can also find a Chair-O-Plane at
Adventure Island has a Chair-O-Plane called Archelon, which was themed to the extinct species of turtle of the same name.
Chessington World of Adventures is home to a monkey-themed Chair-O-Planes, named the "Monkey Swinger", that squirts water at riders. This formerly had a theme based on Billy Whizz of The Beano.
Paultons Park is also home to a Chair-O-Planes called "The Sky Swinger". This ride opened in 2008 and is a Zierer model.
North America
Most of the traditional-style swing carousel rides in North America are found in amusement parks, as well as at many seasonal fairs and carnivals. They are usually made by Zierer (which calls the ride ‘Wave Swinger’), although some are made by Bertazzon (which calls the ride ‘Swing Carousel’) or Zamperla (which calls it ‘Flying Carousel’ or ‘Lollyswings’).
In recent years, many American amusement parks have opened towering (and considerably more thrilling) models, such as the
North American swing rides include:
- Aviator – Kemah Boardwalk
- Bluegrass Breeze – Beech Bend Park(Bertazzon)
- Charlie Brown's Wind Up – Kings Island(Zamperla)
- Crime Wave – Six Flags New England (Zierer)
- Crow's Nest (Formerly Sparkler) – Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (Zamperla Vertical Swing)
- Backyardigans Swing-Along – Nickelodeon Universe (Zierer)
- Da Vinci's Dream – Canobie Lake Park
- DC Super-Villains Swing – Six Flags Over Georgia (Zierer)
- DC Super-Villains Swing – Six Flags Fiesta Texas (Zierer)
- DC Super-Villains Swing – Six Flags Great America (Zierer)
- der Werbelwind – Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Zierer)
- Dream Machine – Calaway Park (Moser)
- Elmo's Cloud Chaser – Sesame Place(Zamperla)
- Eye of the Kraken – Swampy Jack's Wongo Adventure (ARM)
- Fiesta Swing – Wonderland Amusement Park (Chance Rides)
- Flying Catousel – Park at OWA (Zamperla Flying Carousel)
- Flying Swings – Waldameer Park(Zamperla)
- Freedom Flyer – Park at OWA (Zamperla Vertical Swing)
- Gulf Glider – Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (Bertazzon)
- The Gunslinger – Six Flags Over Texas (Chance Rides)
- HallowSwings – Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (Zamperla Flying Carousel)
- Italian Trapeze – Knoebels(Zamperla)
- Lasso – Darien Lake(Zierer)
- Lolly Swing – South Florida Fair (Zamperla)
- Vertigo – South Florida Fair (ARM)
- New England SkyScreamer – Six Flags New England(Funtime)
- North Star – Valleyfair (Funtime)
- Poppy's Playground – Universal Studios Florida (Funtime)
- Seaswings – Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Bertazzon)
- Disney California Adventure Park(Zierer)
- Skycatcher – Kentucky Kingdom (ARM Rides)
- SkyScreamer – Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Funtime)
- SkyScreamer – Six Flags Fiesta Texas (Funtime)
- SkyScreamer – Six Flags Great Adventure (Funtime)
- SkyScreamer – Six Flags Over Georgia (Funtime)
- SkyScreamer – Six Flags St. Louis (Funtime)
- Texas SkyScreamer – Six Flags Over Texas (Funtime)
- SteelHawk – Worlds of Fun(Mondial)
- Storm Chaser – Adventureland (Iowa) (Mondial)
- Swing Carousel – Silver Dollar City (Bertazzon)
- Swing of the Century – Galaxyland (Zierer)
- Swing of the Century – Canada's Wonderland (Zierer)
- Texas Star Flyer – Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (Funtime)
- Tour de Ville – La Ronde (Zamperla)
- Turn of the Century – Elitch Gardens (Zierer)
- Turn of the Century – Lagoon Amusement Park(Zierer)
- Vol Ultime – La Ronde(Funtime)
- Waltzing Swinger – Dollywood (Bertazzon)
- Wave Swinger – Cedar Point (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Magic Mountain (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Funtastic
- Wave Swinger – Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Hersheypark
- Wave Swinger – Lake Winnepesaukah
- Wave Swinger – Adventureland (New York) (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Kennywood (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Kings Dominion (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Knott's Berry Farm (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Lake Compounce (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – Playland
- Wave Swinger – South Florida Fair 2005–2009
- Wave Swinger – Saudi Amusement, Dammam KSA
- Wave Swinger – Seabreeze Amusement Park
- Wave Swinger – Strates Shows (Zierer)
- Wave Swinger – J&J Amusements Zierer
- Wave Swinger – Bengtson Pumpkin Farm Homer Glen, Illinois
- Wave Swinger – J&J Amusements Zierer
- Whirligig – Six Flags Fiesta Texas (Zierer)
- Whirligig – Six Flags Great America (Zierer)
- WindSeeker – Canada's Wonderland (Mondial)
- WindSeeker – Carowinds (Mondial)
- WindSeeker – Cedar Point (Mondial)
- WindSeeker – Kings Dominion (Mondial)
- WindSeeker – Kings Island (Mondial)
- Yo Yo – Alabama Splash Adventure(Chance Rides)
- Yo Yo – South Florida Fair (Chance Rides)
- Yo Yo – Family Kingdom Amusement Park (Chance Rides)
- Yo Yo – West Coast Amusements
- Yo-Yo – Fun Spot USA (Chance Rides)
- Yo-Yo – Quassy Amusement Park (Chance Rides)
- Zephyr – Kings Island (Zierer)
- Vertigo – South Florida Fair and West Palm Fair (ARM)
- Zweefmolen – Dutch Village, Holland, Michigan
South America
- Trukis Di Pinguim – Hopi Hari (Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil)
- Vertical Swing – Mundo Aventura Bogota, Colombia
- Fly Over – Fantasilandia, Santiago, Chile
- Sillas Voladoras – Salitre Mágico Bogota, Colombia
Asia and Oceania
- Unknown – Luna Park (Yerevan, Armenia)
- Unknown (Zierer) – Yerevan Park (Yerevan, Armenia)
- Ontang-anting – Dunia Fantasi) (Jakarta, Indonesia)
- Flying Fiesta – Philippines (Enchanted Kingdom)
- Cyclone – Adventure Island (New Delhi, India)
- Vòng xoay thần tốc – Đầm Sen Park (Vietnam)
- The Thunderbirds – Dream World (Thailand)
Australia
- The Wave Swinger - OCS Fun Sydney Royal Easter Show
- Volare – Luna Park Sydney (Preston & Barbieri)
- Wave Swing – Royal Adelaide Show
- The Dreamworld Flyer – Dreamworld
New Zealand
- Chair-o-Plane – Mahons Amusements (Carnival Ride Operator)
Malaysia
- Spinner – Genting Highlands (Genting Highlands Theme Park)
Spinner had dismantled when the Genting Outdoor Theme Park closed since 1 September 2013 to make way for the world's first
Africa
South Africa
- Wave Swing – Gold Reef City
Popular culture
The Metalocalypse episode "Motherklok" features a Wave Slinger.
A Chair-O-Planes is featured on the cover of Dave Matthews Band's 1994 album Under the Table and Dreaming. The liner note credit lists the site of this photo as Sandusky, Ohio, which is the location of Cedar Point.
In John Updike's short story "You'll Never Know Dear How Much I Love You" he mentions a WhirloGig.
At the end of the
The 2022 film, Swing-Ride (Italian title: 'Calcinculo'), directed by Chiara Bellosi, is a coming of age story set in the world of travelling fairs. It recounts the friendship between a young girl seeking to escape her family and a transgirl from a family of show people. Its title is a play on the Italian name for Swing-Rides (Calcinculo "kick up the arse"), and refers both to the ride and to the blows and setbacks that girls receive during adolescence.[15]
References
- ^ a b David Burton. "Waveswinger". Amusement Ride Extravaganza web site. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
- ^ "Family Swinger". Zamperla. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Midi Family Swinger". Zamperla. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Yo-yo". Chance Rides. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ "Swinger". The Flat Joint. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Swing Carousel". Bertazzon. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Star Flyer". Funtime. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ Jackson, Tom (25 August 2010). "Cedar Fair says patent dispute won't halt development of new rides". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ Jackson, Tom (18 August 2010). "Ride wars at Cedar Point?". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ "Vertical Swing". Zamperla. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ Dell'Acua, Silvio. "Calcinculo". Laputa.it. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Eclipse". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ "SkyScreamer". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ "Short Stuff". Lilo & Stitch: The Series. Season 1. Episode 29. January 2, 2004. Disney Channel.
- ^ Finos, Arianna (13 February 2022). "Berlinale, 'Calcinculo', la fiaba di Chiara Bellosi: "È come un universo che si espande"". La Republicca. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
External links
- Media related to Swing rides at Wikimedia Commons