The reverse bungee (also known as catapult bungee, slingshot, or ejection seat) is a modern type of fairground ride.
The ride consists of two telescopic gantry towers mounted on a platform, feeding two elastic ropes down to a two-person passenger car constructed from an open sphere of tubular steel. The passenger car is secured to the platform with an electro-magnetic latch as the elastic ropes are stretched. When the electromagnet is turned off, the passenger car is catapulted vertically with a g-force of 3–5, reaching an altitude of between 50 metres (164 ft) and 80 metres (262 ft).[citation needed]
Installations
editName | Park | Country | Manufacturer | Opened | Closed | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SlingShot | Canada's Wonderland | Funtime | 2015 | Open | Reaches heights of nearly 300 feet (91.4 m).[1][2] | |
Slingshot | Carowinds | Funtime | 2015 | Open | Reaches heights of up to 300 feet (91.4 m).[2][3] | |
SlingShot | Cedar Point | Funtime | 2014 | Open | Reaches heights of 360 feet (109.7 m). Located in Gemini Midway section of park.[4] | |
Slingshot | Daytona Beach | Funtime | 2017 | Located on top of Boardwalk arcade. Removed after larger Sling Shot was added nearby.[5] | ||
Slingshot | Daytona Beach Screamer's Park | Funtime | 2017 | Open | Replaced smaller Sling Shot located on nearby rooftop. Uploads all on-ride videos to the park's YouTube channel.[6] | |
Slingshot | Jolly Roger Amusement Park | Funtime | Open | Monolithic structure towers.[7] | ||
Slingshot | Kings Island | Funtime | 2002 | 2022 | Reaches heights of 275 feet (83.8 m).[8] | |
Catapult | Lagoon | Funtime | 2002 | Open | Reaches heights over 200 feet (61.0 m)[9][10] | |
Orlando Slingshot | ICON Park | Funtime | Open | Allegedly reaches heights over 390 feet (118.9 m).[11] The ride was closed for about six months for testing and additional employee training after the 2022 fall-related death of a teenager on the Orlando FreeFall ride operated at the same park.[12] | ||
Slingshot | Old Town | Funtime | 2001 | Open | [13] | |
Slingshot | Six Flags Darien Lake | Funtime | Open | Reaches heights of 300 feet (91.4 m).[14] | ||
Texas Gunslinger | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | Funtime | Open | Monolithic structure towers. Also referred to as Slingshot.[15] | ||
Slingshot | Six Flags Great Adventure | Funtime | Open | Reaches heights of 220 feet (67.1 m).[16] | ||
Nightwing | Six Flags New England | Funtime | Open | |||
Sling Shot | Magical Midway | Funtime | Open | Reaches heights of 240 feet (73.2 m).[17] |
Safety issues
editIn August 1998, Jérôme Charron died in a reverse bungee ride accident at the Ottawa Exhibition in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada when he was hurled 40 m into the air before plummeting to his death as his harness had detached. In February 2000, the firm responsible for the ride, Anderson Ventures, was fined $145,000 for this incident.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "SlingShot | Canada's Wonderland". www.canadaswonderland.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ a b "Ride Entertainment Launches Slingshot Rides at Cedar Fair Parks Blooloop". Blooloop. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ "SlingShot Amusement Ride | Carowinds". www.carowinds.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ "SlingShot | Cedar Point". www.cedarpoint.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ Staff Report. "Daytona Boardwalk's iconic Slingshot ride comes down". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ "Screamer's Park Daytona Beach". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ "Slingshot". Jolly Roger Pier Amusements Ocean City MD. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ "The Slingshot Ride | Catapult Rides | Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ Arave, Lynn (2002-04-12). "Lagoon ready to unveil new ride: Catapult". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ "Catapult | Lagoon". www.lagoonpark.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ "Sling Shot". www.magicalmidway.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ "Slingshot ride suspended at ICON Park amid FreeFall investigation". www.mynews13.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Old Town Slingshot & Vomatron". Experience Kissimmee. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Darien Lake. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
- ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
- ^ "NIGHTWING™". Six Flags New England. Retrieved 2020-01-30.