Frisbee (ride) explained

The Frisbee is a type of pendulum amusement ride featuring a circular gondola that rotates as it swings back and forth. Riders are seated on the gondola facing inward or outward, depending on the model. On some models, the entire pendulum makes a full 360 degree swing.

Design and operation

A pendulum is suspended between two support frames. Attached to the base of this pendulum is a circular gondola. Riders 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, maxing out between 120° and 360° (full revolution). Most parks require riders to be at least 48inches tall.

Variants

Manufacturer Model Riders Seating Swing Height Speed
Chance Rides Revolution[1] 20–32 Inward 120° 16.4m (53.8feet) - 19.6m (64.3feet)
Fabbri Group Boomerang 32 Inward 15m (49feet)
24 Inward 22m (72feet)
24–30 Outward 110° 24m (79feet) 31.4 mph (50 km/h)
HUSS Park Attractions Frisbee 40 Either 180° 20m (70feet)
Frisbee XL 40 Outward 260° 36m (118feet)
40–50 Outward 240° 43m (141feet) 68 mph (110 km/h)
Intamin Gyro Swing[2] 32–40 Outward 240° 25m (82feet) 47 mph (75 km/h)
Jiuhua Rides Super Pendulum[3] 54 Outward 220° 26m (85feet)
KMG Afterburner (a.k.a. Fireball)[4] [5] [6] 24 Inward 240° 19.812m (65feet)
16 Inward 240° 21m (69feet)
XXL 20 Inward 240° 40m (130feet)
Luna-Park Rides Extreme 20 Inward 120° 20m (70feet)
Mondial Revolution 40–50 Outward 240° 35m (115feet) 54 mph (88 km/h)
Moser's Rides Sidewinder 24–40 Outward 240°
Sidewinder 12 12 Outward
SBF Visa Group Dance Party 40 Inward 180°
Maxi Dance Party 24 Outward 240° 27m (89feet) 37 mph (59.2 km/h)
Maxi Dance Party 360 24 Outward 360° 33 m
Technical Park Street Fighter 16 Inward 240° 18m (59feet)
Street Fighter Revolution 16 Inward 360° 21m (69feet)
Typhoon 16–30 Outward 240° 30m (100feet)
Typhoon 360 16–30 Outward 360° 33m (108feet)
Zamperla Discovery 30 Outward 240° 21m (69feet) - 26m (85feet)
Discovery Revolution 16–30 Outward 360° 18m (59feet) - 30m (100feet)
Giga Discovery 40 Outward 260° 52.5m (172.2feet) 75 mph (120 km/h)
Giant Discovery[7] 40 Outward 240° 44.8m (147feet) 68 mph (110 km/h)
Mini Discovery 16 Outward 240° 15.5m (50.9feet)
Nitro 20 Inward 200° 15m (49feet)

UltraMax

The UltraMax is a type of amusement ride manufactured by Mondial which is like the HUSS Frisbee however passengers face outwards and are sitting one of the four seats on one of the six gondolas as the ride gets higher momentum and eventually starts going upside down. The ride is built with one arm with two supports and then the arm with the gondolas attached. It also uses the same harness as the ones used on the Top Scans.

Installations

Name Park Location Manufacturer Model Opened Status
Apollo Wheel China Huss Giant Frisbee
Aztec Swing Poland SBF Visa Group Maxi Dance Party
Beach Blaster United States Chance Rides Revolution 20
Beach Party United Kingdom KMG Afterburner
Blizzard Kumdori Land South Korea Zamperla Discovery
Crazy Flywheel China Zamperla Discovery
Discovery Egypt
Discovery Revolution Austria Zamperla Discovery Revolution
Freakout United Kingdom KMG Freak Out
Freak Out United States KMG Freak Out
Free Swing South Korea Huss Frisbee
Frisbee Japan Huss Frisbee
Hurricane China Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment
Side Winder India
Sonic Twister Canada Moser's Rides Sidewinder 12
Star Frisbee Philippines
Super Gyro Swing China Intamin Gyro Swing
The Rattler United States
Hurricane South Korea Huss Frisbee 1996
La Máquina Spain Huss Frisbee 1997
Frisbee United States Huss Frisbee 1998
Tasmanian Devil United States Huss Frisbee 1999
Tomahawk United States Huss Frisbee 1999
Frisbee Finland Huss Frisbee 2000
Side Kick
Formerly Blazing Saddles
Germany Huss Frisbee 2000
Tomahawk Netherlands SBF Visa Group Dance Party 2000
Vudú México SBF Visa Group Dance Party 2000
Gyro Swing South Korea Intamin Gyro Swing 2001
Mad Mill Netherlands Huss Frisbee 2001
Tornado South Korea Zamperla Discovery 2001
United Kingdom KMG Vortex 2001
Black Fly United Kingdom Fabbri Group Boomerang 2002
Boomerang México Fabbri Group Boomerang 2002
Delirium United States Chance Rides Revolution 32 2002
Maelstrom United Kingdom Intamin Gyro Swing 2002
Canada Mondial Revolution 2002
United States Huss Giant Frisbee 2003
Dreggen Norway KMGAfterburner 2003
Freak Out United Kingdom KMG Freak Out 2003
United States Chance Rides Revolution 32 2003
Manitou Canada Zamperla Nitro 2003
The Claw United States Chance Rides Revolution 32 2003
Crazy Beach Party Canada Huss Frisbee 2004
United Kingdom KMG Afterburner 2004
Giant Frisbee Japan Huss Giant Frisbee 2004
Revolution United States Chance Rides Revolution 32 2004
Sidewinder United States Moser's Rides Sidewinder 2004
Sledge Hammer[8] Belgium Huss Giant Frisbee 2004
SynKope Spain Mondial Revolution 2004
Australia Intamin Gyro Swing 2004
Tondemina Japan Huss Giant Frisbee 2004
Typhoon 360 Finland Technical Park Typhoon 360 2004
United States Huss Giant Frisbee 2005
Frisbee United States Huss Frisbee 2006
Giant Discovery China Zamperla Giant Discovery 2006
Fandango United States Moser's Rides Sidewinder 2007
Flip Flop United Kingdom Fabbri Group Top Swing 2007
Xtreme Frisbee United States Huss Frisbee 2007
Super Frisbee Italy Technical Park Typhoon 2008
The Rattler United States Moser's Rides Sidewinder 2008
SpinSpider Norway Zamperla Giant Discovery 2009
Vepsen Norway Fabbri GroupBoomerang 2009
Yukatan Italy Technical Park Typhoon 2009
Giant Discovery North Korea Zamperla Giant Discovery 2010
Luna 360 United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2010
Super Frisbee Brazil Technical Park Typhoon 2010
Svend Svingarm Denmark Zamperla Giant Discovery 2010
Eretic France Zamperla Discovery 2011
Giant Swing Indonesia Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2011
It United States KMG Afterburner 2011
Nautilus Netherlands KMG Afterburner 2011
United States Zamperla Giant Discovery 2012
The Rattler United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2012
Thunder Brazil Technical Park Typhoon 2012
Petir Indonesia Zamperla Discovery 2013
Scream Machine India Zamperla Giant Discovery 2013
SpinCycle United States SBF Visa Group Maxi Dance Party 360 2013
Extreme Supernova United States Zamperla Discovery 2014
Rotator Ireland SBF Visa Maxi Dance Party 360* 2014
Stratosfear New Zealand Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2014
Thor's Pendulum China 2014
Cyclos United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2015
The Beast Canada KMG XXL 2015
United States Zamperla Giant Discovery 2016
Mega Swing 360 E-World South Korea Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2016
United States Mondial Revolution2016
X Finland Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2016
Goliath Australia Intamin Gyro Swing 2017
Loke Sweden Intamin Gyro Swing 2017
Sky-Force
Formerly Pendulus
Flambards
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
United Kingdom Huss Frisbee 2017
2003 to 2016
Canada Zamperla Giant Discovery 2017
Twister United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2017
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth United States Zamperla Giant Discovery 2017
Klake South Korea Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2017
Trompo Loco México SBF Visa Group Midi Dance Party 360 2017
United States Zamperla Giga Discovery 2018
Harley Quinn Spinsanity United States Zamperla Giant Discovery 2018
Pendulum United Kingdom Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2018
Trompo Loco México Zamperla Midi Discovery 2018
Patatús México Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2018
Big Pendulum South Korea 2018
Tigeren Denmark Intamin Gyro Swing 2019
Axis United Kingdom SBF Visa Group Maxi Dance Party 360 2019
United States Zamperla Giant Discovery 2019
Chaos United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2019
United States Zamperla Giga Discovery 2019
Sea Swinger United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2019
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth United States Zamperla Giga Discovery 2019
Mexico Zamperla Giga Discovery 2020
Harley Quinn Spinsanity United States Zamperla Giant Discovery 2021
Cyclonator United Kingdom Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2021
AtmosFear United States Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2021 [9]
Sledgehammer Australia Zamperla Discovery Revolution 2021
Giant Swing South Korea Zamperla Giant Discovery 2022
Swingi Finland Intamin Gyro Swing 2024
Sky Striker United States Zamperla Giga Discovery 2024
United States Zamperla Giga Discovery 2024
Midway Mayhem
Formerly Revolution
Formerly Pendulum
Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great Adventure
United States Huss Frisbee 2024
2004 to 2023
1999 to 2003

Incidents

In May 2017, greasing material on a KMG Freak Out ride at Barry's Amusements at Portrush in Northern Ireland was dislodged, causing a loud bang and oil to spray over people and the nearby children's roller coaster. Nobody was injured, but the ride remained closed for the rest of the day whilst park staff investigated.

In July 2017, an 18-year old was killed while riding a KMG Fireball (aka Afterburner) ride that malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair, sending him flying more than 50 feet in the air. Seven others were injured as well.[10] [11] Numerous fairs and exhibitions have either shut down or pulled the Fireball from their attractions in response to the incident. KMG stated that the malfunction was due to a corroded support beam.[12] [13]

In June 2019, a Zamperla Discovery Revolution ride at Waldameer Park & Water World malfunctioned, resulting in the riders stuck upside down for several minutes. There were no injuries.[14]

In June 2024, the atmosFEAR ride at Oaks Amusement Park, got suspended upside down, trapping 28 riders for about 30 minutes.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Revolutions . Chance Rides . 18 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Gyro Swing . Intamin . 17 May 2017.
  3. Web site: Super Pendulum Pictures and Stats .
  4. News: Rotondo . Christie . Riding 'It' is a hair-raising experience . 5 March 2012 . Shore News Today . 28 July 2011.
  5. [:de:Afterburner (Fahrgeschäft)|Afterburner (Fahrgeschäft)]
  6. Web site: AFTER BURNER . KMG Machinebouw . en-US . 2019-07-16.
  7. News: McKay . Gretchen . Kennywood's newest thrill: Black Widow . 4 March 2012 . Pittsborough Post-Gazette . 16 December 2011.
  8. Web site: Sledge Hammer . Bobbejaanland Nostalgie . 4 April 2020 . nl.
  9. News: Zane Sparling . More than 2 dozen people stuck for 30 minutes dangling upside down on AtmosFEAR ride at Oaks Park . The Oregonian . June 15, 2024 . June 16, 2024.
  10. News: 1 Dead, 7 Injured When Fire Ball Ride Flies Apart At Ohio State Fair. 2017-07-26. HuffPost. 2017-07-27. en-CA.
  11. News: Ohio State Fair ride video: Video shows moment Fire Ball ride broke mid-swing, killing 1. 2017-07-27. WCPO. Scripps Media. 2017-07-27. en-US.
  12. Web site: Corroded beam caused fatal Ohio State Fair accident, ride maker says.
  13. Web site: AMUSEMENT RIDE SAFETY ALERT: KMG International BV Afterburner and Fireball. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 15 July 2019.
  14. Web site: Waldameer Chaos ride operating in limited thrill capacity.