Enterprise (ride)

Enterprise
"Enterprise" at TusenFryd in 2005 (Norway). Opened: 1988 and closed: 2006
First manufactured 1972
No. of installations About 64
Manufacturer HUSS Park Attractions
G force 3
Vehicle type Gondola
Vehicles 20
Riders per vehicle 1-4
Restraint Style Cage
"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]

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 to a precursor, however, as the mechanism used to lift the arm up and down as well as the over all 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.

Design and operation

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; 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 inches tall, though it is not uncommon to see restrictions as much as 54 inches 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 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 and started traveling it to funfairs 1964.[2] Later machines were been built by Klaus[3] and possibly Heinz Fähtz. Although the whereabouts of these rides are mostly unknown, there is one, known as Super Passat, which is currently believed to be in storage.[4]

Giant Enterprise/SkyLab

In the early 1980s HUSS produced a larger version of the Enterprise called the SkyLab. It features fifteen to twenty four-seater gondolas (up to four riders per seat) and had a diameter of approximately 60 feet or greater. Most SkyLabs have been dismantled, however there are three known models still operating, Orbiter at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, Cyclone at Parque Del Café in Montenegro, Quindio, Colombia, and Sky Loop at Luna Park in Tel Aviv, Israel.

UFO

HUSS used the basis of the Enterprise for another ride called the UFO. This ride was similar in operation, however 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

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.[5] Another portable ride is traveled in New Zealand by Mahons Amusements, loading on 2 trailers complete with backflash.

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.

Current rides

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

  • October 17, 1983 – An eighteen-year-old boy was killed and several bystanders were injured at the Texas State Fair when a gondola fell off the ride.[16]
  • 1993 - More than fifty people were injured following a hydraulic malfunction at Camden Park (amusement park) in Huntington, West Virginia.[17]
  • September 22, 2001 – Two teenagers sustained minor injuries when one support on a gondola broke on Zodiac at Thorpe Park, UK.[18] The gondola repeatedly hit the decking at the bottom of the ride whilst the operator attempted to stop the ride. The incident was taken to court, where the judge criticised the length of time it took to shut down the ride after an abnormal noise had been noticed. The park was fined £65,000 and made to pay an extra £35,000 in costs.
  • May 18, 2007 – An Estonian Enterprise owned by Tivoli Tuur and operating at a carnival in Rakvere caught fire.[7] It was in motion, with riders aboard, when the fire suddenly ignited at approximately 11:00 p.m.[19] It was stopped and evacuated, but not before injuries were sustained by the riders.[19] 31 patients were hospitalized with first and second degree burns, with an additional 10 admitted and checked for possible smoke inhalation. Six burn victims required further treatment, with all six released from the hospital by May 23.[7][19] The fire damaged the ride's electrical systems and five of the twenty gondolas.[7] Preliminary investigations found no evidence to conclusively conclude what had caused the incident, but the owner suggested it might have been arson.[7]

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. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  3. ↑ "Passat (Feldl)". www.ride-index.de. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  4. ↑ "Super-Passat". www.ride-index.de. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  5. ↑ "The Flat Joint – Heintz Fahtze Enterprise". Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-08-07. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  7. 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.
  8. ↑ "TYKKIMAKI AMUSEMENT PARK". 2001-07-08. Archived from the original on 2006-10-08. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  9. ↑ Zehle. "Mondlift" (in German). Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  10. ↑ "Home, Hi Impact Amusements". www.hi-impactplanet.com. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  11. ↑ "Home, Mahons Amusements". www.mahonsamusements.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  12. ↑ http://www.wesole-miasteczko.pl/www/en/strona/10
  13. ↑ "Funfair Props Rides List". Husky at comic adventure land. Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Ruchard Bannister (2003). "Coaster Trips 2003: Parque de Atracciones Madrid". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  16. ↑ "CPSC Announces Corrective Action Plan For Popular "Enterprise" Amusement Park Ride". Archived from the original on 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  17. ↑ "Readers remember 100 years of Camden Park", in The Herald-Dispatch, April 14, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Theme park accident owners fined". BBC News. 2004-04-29. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  19. 1 2 3 Roman, Steve (2007-05-23). "Investigation into fun fair blaze continues". The Baltic Times. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
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