Enterprise (ride)

Last updated
Enterprise
Enterprise pa TusenFryd.jpg
"Enterprise" at TusenFryd in 2005 (Norway). Opened: 1988 and closed: 2006
First manufactured1972
No. of installationsAbout 64
Manufacturer HUSS Park Attractions
G force 3
Vehicle typeGondola
Vehicles20
Riders per vehicle2
Restraint StyleCage
"Zodiac" at Thorpe Park in 2003 Zodiac thorpe park.jpg
"Zodiac" at Thorpe Park in 2003

The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Park Attractions and Anton Schwarzkopf beginning in 1972. [1] The HUSS ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. [1] Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was issued the patent. [1]

Contents

Although Schwarzkopf was the first to build the more standard Enterprise, the overall design was actually predated by another ride, the Passat, which first opened in 1964. [2] This is only considered a precursor, however, as the mechanism used to lift the arm up and down as well as the overall look of the ride is much different from a typical Enterprise.

The ride is named after USS Enterprise from the TV series Star Trek . The backdrop is decorated with space-themed art and a silhouette of the starship Enterprise.

Enterprises are manufactured by HUSS, Schwarzkopf, and Heinz Fähtz; all sharing the name Enterprise. Both trailer and park versions have been created and are in use.

In 2015, Italian manufacturer Zamperla introduced the Endeavour, a new ride billed as being based on the Enterprise. [3] This ride mainly differs in its seating and restraint configuration, which is floorless with over-the-shoulder restraints.

Design and operation

The Kwal at Drievliet (Netherlands). Space-Loop.JPG
The Kwal at Drievliet (Netherlands).

In the ride, up to two people sit in one of 20 gondolas arranged in a circle, one in front of the other. [1] The ride moves clockwise, dispelling a slight amount of centrifugal force. [1] A hydraulically powered arm underneath the ride then raises and tilts the frame so that the ride is rotating at 87° from the horizontal, transforming the ride from a horizontal experience to a nearly vertical one. [1]

On most Enterprise models, there are no safety restraints inside the enclosed gondolas; the force applied to the riders is sufficient to keep them pinned in their seats. [1] However, some models have been fitted with seat belts. Most parks and carnivals require riders to be at least 48 in (120 cm) tall, though it is not uncommon to see restrictions as much as 54 in (140 cm) or more. The transportable version of the ride racks onto two trailers, the first carrying the wheel, arm, and drive systems while the second is loaded with the gondolas, platforms, and any additional equipment. [1] The first trailer also acts as the base of the ride while in operation. [1]

Variants

Passat

Much like any other Enterprise-type ride, the Passat has a number of caged gondolas, in this case 12, that sit around a circular frame, which, in turn, sits on the end of an arm. But what makes this ride different from an Enterprise is that the center of the frame, as well as the end of the arm, is fitted around an arc-shaped pillar, which is used to raise and lower the arm in order to tilt it from horizontal to vertical. The earliest known machine, Passat, was originally built by German show family Winter, who started traveling it to funfairs in 1964. [2] Later machines were built by Klaus [4] and possibly Heinz Fähtz.[ citation needed ] Although the whereabouts of these rides are mostly unknown, there is one, known as Super Passat, which is currently believed to be in storage. [5]

Giant Enterprise/SkyLab

In the early 1980s, HUSS produced a larger version of the Enterprise called the SkyLab. It features 15–20 four-seater gondolas (up to four riders per seat) and had a diameter of approximately 60 feet (18 m) or greater. Most SkyLabs have been dismantled; however, there is one known model still operating: Cyclone at Parque Del Café in Montenegro, Quindio, Colombia.

UFO

HUSS used the basis of the Enterprise for another ride called the UFO. This ride was similar in operation, but the cars did not swing freely and riders stood up facing the center of the ride. Similarly to most Enterprise rides, there are no restraints due to the centrifugal force experienced on the ride. This ride is no longer in production.

Fly Away

Alakazam at Pleasure Island, Cleethorpes, a Fly Away variation of the ride with a custom harness that gives the effect of riding a magic carpet Alakazam.JPG
Alakazam at Pleasure Island, Cleethorpes, a Fly Away variation of the ride with a custom harness that gives the effect of riding a magic carpet

HUSS also used the design of the Enterprise for a newer attraction called Fly Away. In this version, riders lay on their stomachs to simulate the feeling of flying. This version also has the capability to spin riders forwards or backwards.

Schwarzkopf

The Schwarzkopf versions of the Enterprise have either 16 or 21 gondolas, thus having a different diameter of the wheel. [1] The gondolas are also smaller than the HUSS version. Originally, the gondolas were produced in-house; they were later replaced by gondolas manufactured separately by Reverchon. [1]

Heinz Fähtz

Heinz Fähtz manufactured some 16-gondola Enterprises. The only known operating park model is at Darien Lake, installed in 1981. [6] Another portable ride is traveled in New Zealand by Mahons Amusements, loading on 2 trailers complete with backflash.[ citation needed ] [7]

Emiliana Luna Park

The Emiliana Luna Park version of the Enterprise has 20 gondolas. [8] One Enterprise manufactured by Emiliana Luna Park, named Kehrä, is located at Linnanmäki amusement park in Finland. [9]

Senyo Kogyo Co.

One model is known to be operating currently at Yokohama Cosmo World. [10] Super Planet is comparable to the Huss Giant Enterprise models, as they both feature similar gondolas that accommodate four riders in two seats. Unlike the Huss version which has only 15 gondolas, the Senyo Kogyo version has 20, which allows for a total of 80 passengers. This makes it one of the largest Enterprise rides in size and capacity.

Appearances

Note: The Schwarzkopf Park Model versions of the ride are indicated with "(SDC)" following the park or operator name. The Heinz Fähtz Enterprise is marked "(HF)".
The Reef Diver at Dreamworld. Reef Diver - Dreamworld.jpg
The Reef Diver at Dreamworld.
Zulu at Worlds of Fun. Zulu - panoramio.jpg
Zulu at Worlds of Fun.

Current rides

Owned by Lukic Family, travel model

Past appearances

The following Enterprise rides at the following amusement parks are now defunct.

Note: The Schwarzkopf Park Model versions of the ride are indicated with "(SDC)" following the park or operator name.

Incidents

Related Research Articles

Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer who founded Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH, a German manufacturer of roller coasters and other amusement rides that were sold to amusement parks and travelling funfairs around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pirate ship (ride)</span> Amusement ride

A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride based on pirate ships, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum. A variant where the riders must pull on ropes to swing the ride is known as a swing boat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspended roller coaster</span> Type of steel roller coaster

A suspended roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster in which the car hangs from the bottom of the rolling stock by a pivoting fulcrum or hinge assembly. This allows the car and riders to swing side to side as the train races along the track. Due to the swing designs, these roller coasters cannot invert riders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drop tower</span> Type of amusement ride

A drop tower is a type of amusement park ride incorporating a central tower structure with one or more gondolas attached. In a typical modern configuration, each gondola carrying riders is lifted to the top of the tower and then released to free fall back down to ground level. This produces a feeling of weightlessness followed by rapid deceleration. A magnetic braking system, or a variation that relies on pistons and air pressure, is used to safely bring the gondola to a complete stop. One of the earliest drop towers configured as an amusement ride was a parachute ride that debuted at the 1939 New York World's Fair, which was inspired by paratrooper training devices used by the Soviet Union in the 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swing ride</span> Type of amusement ride

The swing ride or chair swing ride is an amusement ride that is a variation on the carousel in which the seats are suspended from the rotating top of the carousel. On some versions, particularly on the Wave Swingers, the rotating top of the carousel also tilts for additional variations of motion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whizzer (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster

Whizzer, originally named Willard's Whizzer, is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, United States. Designed by Werner Stengel and built by Anton Schwarzkopf, the Speedracer model was one of two identical roller coasters built for the Marriott Corporation in time for the debut of their Great America parks in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Condor (ride)</span> Amusement ride

The Condor is the trade name of an amusement ride sold by HUSS of Bremen, Germany. It was debuted at the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair, under the name "Cyclo Tower".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frisbee (ride)</span> Type of pendulum amusement ride

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joyland Amusement Park</span> Amusement park in Lubbock, Texas, United States

Joyland Amusement Park was a small family-owned traditional amusement park, located in Lubbock, Texas, United States within Lubbock's Mackenzie Park. It typically operated from March to September of each year, opening 6 days a week but only during the evening on weeknights.

A Kamikaze is a pendulum amusement ride, usually found as a traveling ride, with some examples found at amusement parks. The ride is manufactured by FarFabbri & Sartori, and first made its debut in 1984. Since then, over 150 Kamikazes have been sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Octopus (ride)</span> Amusement ride shaped like an octopus

The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Six to eight arms attached to a central axis of rotation and move up and down in a wavelike motion via a counter rotating eccentric, while cars at the end of the arms, either attached directly to the arm or fixed on spinning crosses, spin freely or stay in place, depending on the exact type of ride. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle or centric of the ride will move somehow. Most octopus rides require guests to be at least 42 inches to ride without an adult; smaller children must have an adult with them. This is a regular at the annual AGS and AHS fairs in Ateneo de Manila University

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranger (ride)</span> Inverting pendulum amusement ride

A Ranger is an inverting pendulum ride first manufactured by HUSS Machinenfabrik in 1981. Many of the design elements were later used in the HUSS Rainbow, and the term 'Ranger' has become synonymous with inverting pendulum rides. It was the first inverting swing ride designed since Lee Eyerly's Loop-O-Plane and set the standard for many other attractions using the inverting pendulum ride system, such as the Rainbow, the Kamikaze (ride), and the Inverter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troika (ride)</span> Amusement ride

The Troika is an amusement park ride designed and manufactured by HUSS Park Attractions in the mid-1970s. The name Troika means "group of three" in Russian, a reference to its three armed design. There are several variations on the design.

The HUSS Swing Around is an amusement park ride formerly manufactured by HUSS. It was HUSS Maschinenfabrik's first ride model, debuted in 1969. It is not manufactured by the company anymore, but there are a handful of known units left around the world. The ride rotates in a circle, and the arms swing out, and then come in. They keep on doing this during the ride, in bigger and bigger increments until the very end, where they all swing out, using pneumatic pressure. Most parks require riders to be 42 inches tall to ride; anyone under 48 inches tall must ride with an adult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockin' Tug</span> Flat tugboat amusement ride

Rockin' Tug is a flat tugboat ride manufactured by Zamperla. The ride is manufactured in both traveling and park versions. It is the first of a line of new "halfpiperides". Zamperla's Disk'O is another popular ride from that "family". The difference is that the Rockin' Tug has a friction wheel, while the Disk'O is powered driven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Discovery Kingdom</span> Zoological theme park in Vallejo, California

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is a 135-acre (55 ha) animal theme park located in Vallejo, California, off of Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento. The park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has been part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks since 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Tower of Power</span> Drop tower at Six Flags parks

Superman: Tower of Power is a drop tower ride currently located at two Six Flags parks, and two former installments at Kentucky Kingdom and Six Flags St. Louis. Two of the four drop towers were manufactured by Intamin, while the Six Flags Over Georgia version was made by Zamperla, and the Six Flags Over Texas version was made by S&S. The installment at Kentucky Kingdom was demolished after an accident that severed a 13-year-old girl's feet. At Six Flags St. Louis, the ride was removed from the park's website in early 2021. Three additional drop towers of the same model by S&S are installed at other Six Flags parks Six Flags New England and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, each known as Scream and one more built at Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor known as Sasquatch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delirium (ride)</span> Frisbee amusement ride

Delirium is the name of three Frisbee rides located at three Six Flags parks – California's Great America, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion. The installation at California's Great America, the smallest of the three, was designed by Chance Rides and opened in 2002. The installation at Kings Island was designed by HUSS Park Attractions and opened on April 12, 2003, as the largest Frisbee ride of its kind in the world. The record-setting ride is able to swing 50 passengers up to 76 mph (122 km/h) reaching a height of 137 feet (42 m). Mondial manufactured the version of Delirium at Kings Dominion, which opened in 2016. It accommodates up to 40 passengers, reaches a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h), and swings to a maximum height of 115 feet (35 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow (ride)</span> Amusement park ride

Rainbow is an Amusement park ride created by HUSS Maschinenfabrik of Bremen, Germany. The Rainbow was manufactured from 1982 to 2000 and is often confused with its cousins Ali Baba and 1001 Nachts plus other similar models. The HUSS Rainbow has developed a vast fan base due to its large stature, smooth ride, bright lights, iconic motor noise and amazing air-time ride experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parque de Atracciones de Madrid</span> Amusement park in Madrid, Spain

Parque de Atracciones de Madrid is a 20-hectare (49-acre) amusement park located in the Casa de Campo in Madrid, Spain. Opened in 1969, it is the third-oldest operating amusement park in Spain behind Parc d'Atraccions Tibidabo and Parque de Atracciones Monte Igueldo. It is the flagship park of Parques Reunidos, who operates the park under Madrid municipal government concession until 2039.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Burton, David. "Amusement Ride Extravaganza – Enterprise" . Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  2. 1 2 "Passat (Winter)". www.ride-index.de. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  3. "Endeavour". Zamperla. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  4. "Passat (Feldl)". www.ride-index.de. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  5. "Super-Passat". www.ride-index.de. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  6. "The Flat Joint – Heintz Fahtze Enterprise" . Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  7. As of February 2021, Mahons Amusements confirmed the ride was last setup in April 2008 and fully functional. Since then it has been put in storage awaiting future refurbishment.
  8. "Enterprise".
  9. 1 2 "Kehrä | Laitteet".
  10. 1 2 "Super Planet - Coasterpedia - The Roller Coaster and Flat Ride Wiki". coasterpedia.net.
  11. "Solhjulet". Archived from the original on 2012-08-07. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cause of amusement park fire in Estonia remains unknown". Helsingin Sanomat International Edition . 2007-05-21. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  13. "Enterprise | Huvilaitteet | PowerPark".
  14. "Gravity". Kingoland Parc d'Attractions Bretagne Le grand parc d'attractions du Morbihan.
  15. Zehle. "Mondlift" (in German). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  16. "Home, Hi Impact Amusements". www.hi-impactplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  17. "Home, Mahons Amusements". www.mahonsamusements.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  18. "Legendia Attractions". www.legendia.pl. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  19. "Funfair Props Rides List". Husky at comic adventure land. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  20. According to Amusement Rides Extravaganza, there are 22 HUSS Enterprises in North America; this does not include other manufacturers and may or may not include Canada.
  21. "Our History from 1932 to Today". Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  22. Ruchard Bannister (2003). "Coaster Trips 2003: Parque de Atracciones Madrid" . Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  23. 1 2 3 Wunder, Olaf (13 August 2021). "Unglück mit sieben Toten: "Ich überlebte die Dom-Katastrophe vor 40 Jahren"" [Accident with seven dead: "I survived the Cathedral Disaster 40 years ago"]. mopo.de (in German).
  24. "CPSC Announces Corrective Action Plan For Popular "Enterprise" Amusement Park Ride". Archived from the original on 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  25. "Fun ride fatality probed". The Oklahoman. 18 October 1983. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  26. http://www.herald-dispatch.com/entertainment/x1875274626/Readers-remember-100-years-of-Camden-Park "Readers remember 100 years of Camden Park", in The Herald-Dispatch , April 14, 2013.
  27. "Theme park accident owners fined". BBC News. 2004-04-29. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  28. 1 2 3 Roman, Steve (2007-05-23). "Investigation into fun fair blaze continues". The Baltic Times . Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  29. Tucker, Rachel; Royer, Jack (21 February 2023). "'Absolute nightmare': Florida State Fair patrons describe being stuck upside-down on ride". WFLA. Retrieved 6 September 2024.