Ranger (ride)
Encyclopedia
A Ranger is a HUSS manufactured inverting pendulum ride
, first manufactured 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 "flat ride" designed since Lee Eyerly's Loop-O-Plane
and set the standard for many of its successors, like the Kamikaze (ride)
, Looping Starship
, Inverter, Ring of Fire, and Sky Flyer.
Unlike most inverting rides, the Ranger uses a stomach restraint to secure passengers. A large rectangular pad is hydraulically pushed into the passenger's stomach, keeping them pinned to the seat. Keeping the stomach firm while the restraints are being deployed is enough to prevent major discomfort during the ride. This system is unique to the Ranger and directly copied designs. Minimum rider height requirement is 48 inches or taller.
Transportable versions of this ride can be racked on two 40ft trailers, one for the station platform, support arm, and ride arm, and the second carrying the gondala, lighting, and counterweights. The first trailer also acts as the base of the ride.
Pendulum ride
Pendulum rides are amusement rides based on the motion of a fixed pendulum. These rides consist of an arm attached to an axle. One end of the arm is fitted with a passenger-carrying gondola, while the other is usually fitted with a heavy counterweight...
, first manufactured 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 "flat ride" designed since Lee Eyerly's Loop-O-Plane
Loop-O-Plane
The Loop-O-Plane is an amusement park ride that originated in America. It was invented by Lee Eyerly and manufactured by the Eyerly Aircraft company of Salem, Oregon in 1933. The was immediately popular with customers and became a staple of amusement parks....
and set the standard for many of its successors, like the Kamikaze (ride)
Kamikaze (ride)
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 Far Fabbri & Sartori, and first made its debut in 1984...
, Looping Starship
Looping Starship
The Looping Starship is an amusement ride manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland. The ride is a swinging ship that can spin a complete 360-degree revolution, which can be very scary at times...
, Inverter, Ring of Fire, and Sky Flyer.
Design and operation
The ride consists of a single 66ft arm mounted to four 90kW DC motors at the midpoint. A 40-seat gondala is mounted on one end of the arm, with passengers sitting in eight rows, four each side of the arm, facing inwards. On the opposite end of the arm is a pair of counterweights. The side of the arm facing out to the crowd is decorated with an elaborate lighting array. The ride is designed to rock back and forth, before making several inversions, although the gondala can be inverted from a standing start. Unlike most pendulum rides, the Ranger is reliant primarily on the motors to invert, as opposed to momentum. The ride is capable of maintaining a speed of 8 revolutions per minute, and the gondala and arm weigh 65 tons.Unlike most inverting rides, the Ranger uses a stomach restraint to secure passengers. A large rectangular pad is hydraulically pushed into the passenger's stomach, keeping them pinned to the seat. Keeping the stomach firm while the restraints are being deployed is enough to prevent major discomfort during the ride. This system is unique to the Ranger and directly copied designs. Minimum rider height requirement is 48 inches or taller.
Transportable versions of this ride can be racked on two 40ft trailers, one for the station platform, support arm, and ride arm, and the second carrying the gondala, lighting, and counterweights. The first trailer also acts as the base of the ride.
Variants
- WEBER's Traum Boot is very similar in design to the Ranger, the main difference being the side profile of the gondala is flat, as opposed to the banana-shaped profile of the Ranger.
- The KamikazeKamikaze (ride)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 Far Fabbri & Sartori, and first made its debut in 1984...
amusement ride is commonly known as a double arm Ranger. - Looping Star is another Ranger variant which was in operation at Long Island's Adventureland for much of the 80's decade. Video footage of this ride can be seen in Chaka Khan's "Love Of A Lifetime" (1986) music video.
- The Screamin' Eagle at Seabreeze Amusement ParkSeabreeze Amusement ParkSeabreeze Amusement Park, known locally as Seabreeze, is an historic amusement park in Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester, New York, United States.Seabreeze is in northeast Irondequoit, where Irondequoit Bay empties into Lake Ontario...
is similar to the Ranger, the only differences being that the ride's appearance is that of an eagle, and there is no floor, making it a foot-dangling ride. Otherwise, the ride operates the same way.
Appearances
There are approximately 30 Rangers operating as of 2006.- Australia - One Ranger, at Luna Park SydneyLuna Park SydneyLuna Park Sydney is an amusement park, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. - Germany - At least two : at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind and Hansa Park.
- Italy - One Ranger, at Zoosafari Fasanolandia.
- United States of America - One Ranger, at Darien Lake.