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{{short description|Type of amusement ride}}
{{Merge|Swings (ride)|date=October 2007}}
{{For|the 2022 film|Swing Ride}}{{Distinguish|Pendulum ride}}
]
]
] in ], Germany]]
], ], Sweden]]
] ]
]
The '''Chair-O-Planes''', sometimes called a '''swing carousel''' or '''wave swinger''', is a ] that is a variation on the ] in which the chairs are suspended on chains from the ] top of the carousel. As the rotation speed of the Chair-O-Planes increases, the chairs are thrown outwards by ] force. On some versions, particularly on the ] the rotating top of the carousel also tilts for additional variations of motion.
The '''swing ride''' or '''chair swing ride''' (sometimes called a '''swing carousel''', '''wave swinger''', '''yo-yo''', '''waver swinger''', '''Chair-O-Planes''', '''Dodo''' or '''swinger''') is an ] that is a variation on the ] in which the seats are suspended from the ] 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.


==History==
This type of ] was present at even the earliest amusement parks. At ] in Oakland, California, in 1908, the ride was called Flying Swing, but appears to be the same principle.
] has a chair-o-planes adapted from a bomb damaged roundabout in 1944.<ref name=Hollycombe>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollycombe.co.uk/fairground/steam-chair-o-planes |title=Steam Chair-o-Planes |website=hollycombe.co.uk |publisher=Hollycombe Working Steam Museum |access-date=1 July 2024 }}</ref>
==In the U.K.==
] seen through the trees]]] Theme Park in Scotland claims that its moon shaped ride, "The Plough", is the largest Chair-O-Plane in the world. The Plough was originally called Apollo 14 and was owned by the Bembom family, operating in their ] in Holland during the late seventies. It had gondolas travelling around the outside of the ride. When moved to ] in England (then called "Bembom Brothers"), it was reconstructed into a Chair-O-Plane and named Heatwave. Later on, Henk Bembom moved Heatwave to his new park, Loudoun Castle, where it was renamed "The Plough" and painted green.


A Chair-O-Planes premiered in ] in 1972, designed by ] and built by ], brother of ]. In 1974 the first portable unit debuted under the same partnership. Since then Zierer has built about 200 units.<ref name="ARE">{{cite web |url=http://www.ride-extravaganza.com/family/wave-swinger |title= Waveswinger |work= Amusement Ride Extravaganza web site |author= David Burton |access-date= June 12, 2010 }}</ref> Other manufacturers have followed creating their own versions of the Chair-O-Planes, including ], ], Grover Watkins, ], ], ], and ].<ref name="ARE"/><ref name="Zamperla – Family Swinger">{{cite web|title=Family Swinger|url=http://zamperla.com/en/product/135/family-swinger.html|publisher=Zamperla|access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Zamperla – Midi Family Swinger">{{cite web|title=Midi Family Swinger|url=http://zamperla.com/en/product/138/midi-family-swinger.html|publisher=Zamperla|access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Chance Rides – Yo-yo">{{cite web|title=Yo-yo|url=http://chancerides.com/rides/yoyo.html|publisher=Chance Rides|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref><ref name="Watkins – Swinger">{{cite web|title=Swinger|url=http://www.flatrides.com/Ride%20Index%20Pages/swinger.html|publisher=The Flat Joint|access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="Bertazzon – Swing Carousel">{{cite web|title=Swing Carousel|url=http://www.bertazzon-america.com/swing-carousel.php|publisher=Bertazzon|access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref>
There is also a Chair-O-Plane ride at ] in ]. Set in a prehistoric themed area of the park called Ug Land, it is called the ''Ug Swinger''.


In the late 2000s, ]n manufacturer Funtime developed the world's first tower swinger, known as the ].<ref name="Funtime – Star Flyer">{{cite web|title=Star Flyer|url=http://www.funtime.com.au/data/index2.htm|publisher=Funtime|access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref> ] followed with their ], resulting in a lawsuit between the two companies.<ref name="Cedar Fair says patent dispute won't halt development of new rides">{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Tom|title=Cedar Fair says patent dispute won't halt development of new rides|url=http://www.sanduskyregister.com/2010/aug/26/patentclaim082610tjxml|access-date=21 November 2011|newspaper=Sandusky Register|date=25 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="Ride wars at Cedar Point?">{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Tom|title=Ride wars at Cedar Point?|url=http://www.sanduskyregister.com/sandusky/2010/aug/19/ride-wars-cedar-point|access-date=21 November 2011|newspaper=Sandusky Register|date=18 August 2010}}</ref> Zamperla also sells a Vertical Swing.<ref name="Zamperla – Vertical Swing">{{cite web|title=Vertical Swing|url=http://zamperla.com/en/product/105/vertical-swing.html|publisher=Zamperla|access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref>
] is home to "Billy's Whizzer" in its Beanoland area, which fires water jets upwards at riders.


==Locations==
==In North America==
{{Expand list|date=November 2011}}
]

Most of the swing carousel rides in North America are located at amusement parks. They are usually made by ] (which calls the ride ]), although some are made by ] (which calls the ride Swing Carousel) or ] (which calls the ride Flying Carousel).
===Europe===
====]====
The Prater Turm located in the Wurstelprater in ] opened in 2010 at a height of {{Convert|117|m}}.

====]====
The ], located in ], ], affords sweeping views of the city's historical centre.
The Swing Carousel also located in Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen.
====]====
Les Chaises Volantes in ] is a Zierer model from 1987 which was relocated to the park in 1992.

==== ] ====
In Germany, swing rides are often found on ], ] like the ] and ]. But swing rides are also common in ]. Most of the German swing rides are from Zierer.


Some of these include: Some of these include:
*Backyardigans Swing-Along -- ]
*Da Vinci's Dream -- ]
*Gotham City Crime Wave--] (]).
*HalloSwings--] (]).
*Lasso-] (]).
*]-] (]).
*Seaswings -- ] (Bertazzon)
*Swing Carousel -- ] (Bertazzon)
*Swing Carousel -- ] (Bertazzon)
*Turn of the Century--] (]).
*Wave Swinger--] (]).
*Wave Swinger--] (]).
*Wave Swinger--] (])
*Wave Swinger--]
*Whirligig--] (]).
*Wave Swinger--]
*Wave Swinger--]
*Zephyr--]
] are one of the only touring companies that has a carnival (transportable) Wave Swinger. Depending on the crew, it can take up to 7 hours set the ride up after transit.


* Africa Swing – {{ill|Safariland Stukenbrock|de}} (Wooddesign Amusement Rides BV)
==Ride manufacturers==
* Fliegenpilz – ] (Zierer)
*
* Flying Carousel – ] (Zamperla)
*
* Himmelsstürmer – {{ill|Taunus Wunderland|de}} (Zierer)
*
* La Ola – ] (Zierer)
==See also==
* Kettenflieger – {{ill|Fränkisches Wunderland|de}}
*]
* Kettenflieger – ] Wooddesign Amusement Rides BV
*]
* Kettenkarussell – ]
* Kettenkarussell – {{ill|Schwaben Park|de}}
* Kettenkarussell – ] (Zierer)
* Königsflug – {{ill|Bayern-Park|de}} (Zierer)
* Pier Side Carousel – ] (Zierer)
* Sea Swing – Movie Park Germany (Zamperla)
* Wellenflieger – {{ill|Fort Fun Abenteuerland|de}} (Zierer)
* Wellenflieger – ] (Zierer)
* Wellenfliegerpilz – {{ill|Erlebnispark Steinau an der Straße|de}} (Zierer)
* Wellenflug – ] (Wooddesign Rides B. V.)
* Wellenflug – ] (Zierer)
* Wiener Wellenflieger – ] (Zierer)
* Wirbelpilz – ] (Zierer)
* Zonga Kettenflieger – ] (SBF Visa)

====]====
In ], most swing rides travel with ]. The ride is called "''Seggiolini volanti''" ("Flying chairs") or "''calcinculo''", which literally means "kick in the bottom". Two people sit in contiguous seats, and the one sitting behind kicks or pushes their partner higher in the air, in order to reach a "tail" suspended beyond normal reach at a point in the ride's rotation. Any individual who manages to grab the tail wins a free ride.<ref name="eyetal">{{cite web |last1=Dell'Acua |first1=Silvio |url=https://www.laputa.it/lexicon/calcinculo/ |website=Laputa.it |access-date=30 July 2023|title= Calcinculo }}</ref>

====]====
] located the same Chair-O-Plane as Loundoun Castle.

Some Swing rides in the Netherlands:

* Djinn – ] (Wooddesign Rides B. V.)
* K3 Slingermolen – {{ill|Plopsa Indoor Coevorden|de}}
* Kettenflug Apollo – ] (Schwarzkopf)
* Piraat Enterhaak! – {{ill|Avonturenpark Hellendoorn|nl}} (Zierer)
* Super Swing – ] (Zierer)

====]====
]
The second-largest amusement park within the ] is ] (lit. “daisies”), located {{convert|10|km}} outside the capital city ]. Tusenfryd features a Wellenflieger called ''Sverrehusken'' (“swear the chairs”) that has been in-operation since 1988. Sverrehusken was the first ride of its kind in the Nordic countries.

At ] (lit. ‘the royal park’), located 10&nbsp;km outside the third-largest city in Norway, ], is a Wellenflieger named ''Spinnvidle'' (“spin-wheel”) that has been in-operation since 2012. Spinnvidle is the first of its kind in Norway with double seats.

====]====
The ] name for Swing ride is ''Slänggunga'' or ''Kättingflygare''. At ], ], a swing ride with the name "Eclipse" can be found. With its {{convert|121.9|m}}, it shares the "world's second tallest" title with ] in Texas, North America.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eclipse|url=http://www.gronalund.com/en/Attraktioner/Alla-attraktioner/Eclipse/|access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SkyScreamer|url=http://content.sixflags.com/newfor2013/overtexas/texas-skyscreamer/|access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref>

The biggest amusement park in ] is ], in Sweden's second largest city ]. Liseberg is the home of a Swing ride named "''Slänggungan''".

====]====
* Diavolo – ] (Zierer)
* Fumanchú (Defunct) – ] (Zierer)
* Los Ícaros – ] (Zierer)
* Sillas Voladoras – ] (Zierer)
* Sillas Voladoras de Mr. Freeze – ] (Zierer)
* Star Flyer – ] (Funtime)
* Vertical Twister – {{ill|Parque de Atracciones de Zaragoza|es}} (Zamperla)

====]====
]]]
] Theme Park in Scotland claimed that its moon-shaped ride, "The Plough", was the largest Chair-O-Plane in the world. The Plough was originally called Apollo 14 and was owned by the Bembom family, operating in their ] in the Netherlands during the late seventies. It had gondolas travelling around the outside of the ride. When moved to ] in England (then called "Bembom Brothers"), it was reconstructed into a Chair-O-Plane and named Heatwave. Leaving Dreamland, it opened in Lightwater Valley in 1998 where it operated until 2003 when Henk Bembom moved Heatwave to his new park, Loudoun Castle, where it was renamed "The Plough" and painted green. The park has been closed since 2010.

Until 2016, there was a Chair-O-Plane ride at ] in ]. Called ] it was set in a fantasy themed area of the park called Cloud Cukoo Land, it was themed as a giant mushroom. This was formerly themed as a prehistoric dinosaur-type ride and located in an area called Ug Land.

You can also find a Chair-O-Plane at ] which is one of the largest vintage ] including some steam driven rides. Their ride's past is a little patchy but is thought to have been built in Germany in the 1920s and imported to Britain with a blank canvas. It's generally the case that ] roundabouts run clockwise, whereas their ] and ] counterparts run anti-clockwise. The Chair-o-Plane certainly runs the right direction to be a British-built ride, but it may have been adapted by an early owner.

] has a Chair-O-Plane called Archelon, which was themed to ]

] is home to a monkey-themed Chair-O-Planes, named the "Monkey Swinger", that squirts water at riders. This formerly had a theme based on ] of ].

] is also home to a Chair-O-Planes called "The Sky Swinger". This ride opened in 2008 and is a ] model.

] is home to three Chair-O-Planes, one at each site, located at ], ], and ]. ] is home to a Zierer Wave Swinger, and the other two resorts manufacturers are unknown.

===North America===
{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2023}}
], BC, Canada.]]
].]]
] is found at several ] parks; above is at ], ], ].]]
] parks; pictured is of ], ].]]
Most of the traditional-style swing carousel rides in North America are found in amusement parks, as well as at many seasonal fairs and carnivals. They are usually made by Zierer (which calls the ride ‘Wave Swinger’),<ref>{{Cite web |last=KG |first=ZIERER Karussell-und Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH & Co |title=Wave Swingers |url=https://www.zierer.com/en/products/wave-swingers |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.zierer.com |language=en-EN}}</ref> although some are made by Bertazzon (which calls the ride ‘Swing Carousel’)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swing rides for sale – Bertazzon 3B |url=https://www.bertazzon.com/swing-carousels.php |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.bertazzon.com}}</ref> or Zamperla (which calls it ‘Flying Carousel’ or ‘Lollyswings’).<ref>{{Cite web |title=FLYING CAROUSEL {{!}} A classic oscillating wave swinger |url=https://www.zamperla.com/product/flying-carousel |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Zamperla |language=en}}</ref>

In recent years, many American amusement parks have opened towering (and considerably more thrilling) models, such as the ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=WindSeeker {{!}} Swing Ride {{!}} Cedar Point |url=https://www.cedarpoint.com/rides-experiences/windseeker |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.cedarpoint.com |language=en}}</ref> (by ]) or the ] (by ]). These high-thrill swing rides are normally a minimum of 100 feet (30.48 m) tall, with several even surpassing 200’ (60.96 m). The Texas and New England Six Flags parks have Sky Screamers measuring 400’ (121.92 m).

North American swing rides include:
*Aviator<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Rides & Amusements {{!}} Kemah Boardwalk |url=https://www.kemahboardwalk.com/all-rides |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=www.kemahboardwalk.com |language=en}}</ref> – ]
*Bluegrass Breeze<ref>{{Cite web |last=wdd |title=Thrill Rides {{!}} Beech Bend Amusement Park {{!}} Bowling Green, KY |url=https://beechbend.com/amusement-park/rides-attractions/thrill-rides/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Beech Bend Park |language=en-US}}</ref> – ] (Bertazzon)
*] – ] (Zamperla)
*Crime Wave – ] (Zierer)
*Crow's Nest (Formerly Sparkler) – ] (Zamperla Vertical Swing)
* Backyardigans Swing-Along – ] (Zierer)
*Da Vinci's Dream – ]
*DC Super-Villains Swing – ] (Zierer)
*DC Super-Villains Swing – ] (Zierer)
*DC Super-Villains Swing – ] (Zierer)
*der Werbelwind – ] (Zierer)
*Dream Machine – ] (Moser)
*Elmo's Cloud Chaser – ] (Zamperla)
*Eye of the Kraken – Swampy Jack's Wongo Adventure (ARM)
*Fiesta Swing – ] (Chance Rides)
*Flying Carousel – ] (Zamperla Flying Carousel)
*Flying Swings – ] (Zamperla)
*Flying Trapeze - ] (Chance Rides)
*Freedom Flyer – Park at OWA (Zamperla Vertical Swing)
*Gulf Glider – ] (Bertazzon)
*The Gunslinger – ] (Chance Rides)
*HallowSwings – ] (Zamperla Flying Carousel)
*Italian Trapeze – ] (Zamperla)
*Lasso – ] (Zierer)
*Lolly Swing – ] (Zamperla)
* Vertigo – ] (ARM)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*Poppy's Playground – ] (Funtime)
*Seaswings – ] (])
*] – ] (Zierer)
*Skycatcher – ] (ARM Rides)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Mondial)
*Storm Chaser – ] (Mondial)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*Swashbuckler – ] (])
*Swing Carousel – ] (])
*Swing of the Century – ] (Zierer)
*Swing of the Century – ] (Zierer)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*Tour de Ville – ] (Zamperla)
*Turn of the Century – ] (Zierer)
*Turn of the Century – ] (Zierer)
*] – ] (Funtime)
*Waltzing Swinger – ] (])
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – Funtastic
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ]
*Wave Swinger – ]
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – ]
*Wave Swinger – ] 2005–2009
*Wave Swinger – Saudi Amusement, Dammam KSA
*Wave Swinger – ]
*Wave Swinger – ] (Zierer)
*Wave Swinger – J&J Amusements Zierer
*Wave Swinger – Bengtson Pumpkin Farm ]
*Wave Swinger – J&J Amusements Zierer
*Whirligig – ] (Zierer)
*Whirligig – ] (Zierer)
*] – ] (Mondial)
*] – ] (Mondial)
*] – ] (Mondial)
*] – ] (Mondial)
*] – ] (Mondial)
*Yo Yo – ] (Chance Rides)
*Yo Yo – ] (Chance Rides)
*Yo Yo – ] (Chance Rides)
*Yo Yo – ]
*Yo-Yo – ] (])
*Yo-Yo – ] (Chance Rides)
*Zephyr – ] (Zierer)
*Vertigo – ] and West Palm Fair (ARM)
*Zweefmolen – Dutch Village, ]

===South America===
*Trukis Di Pinguim – ] (], ], ])
*Vertical Swing – Mundo Aventura Bogota, Colombia
*Fly Over – ], Santiago, Chile
*Sillas Voladoras – Salitre Mágico Bogota, Colombia

===Asia and Oceania===
* Unknown – ] (Yerevan, Armenia)
* Unknown (]) – ] (])
*Ontang-anting – ] (]) (Jakarta, Indonesia)
*Flying Fiesta – ] (])
*Cyclone – Adventure Island (])
*Vòng xoay thần tốc – ] (])
*The Thunderbirds – ] (])

====Australia====
*The Wave Swinger - OCS Fun ]

*Volare – ] (Preston & Barbieri)
*Wave Swing – ]
*The Dreamworld Flyer – ]

====New Zealand====
* Chair-o-Plane – Mahons Amusements (Carnival Ride Operator)

====Malaysia====
*Spinner – ] (Genting Highlands Theme Park)
Spinner had dismantled when the Genting Outdoor Theme Park closed since 1 September 2013 to make way for the world's first ], which was completed by 2021.

===Africa===
====South Africa====
* Wave Swing – ]

==Popular culture==

The '']'' episode "Motherklok" features a Wave Slinger.

A Chair-O-Planes is featured on the cover of ]'s 1994 album '']''. The liner note credit lists the site of this photo as ], which is the location of ].

In ]'s short story "You'll Never Know Dear How Much I Love You" he mentions a WhirloGig.

At the end of the '']'' episode "Short Stuff", Experiment 297, a crab-like alien who was accidentally enlarged by his creator ]'s growth ray and given the name "Shortstuff", has the ability to swivel his body from the waist up. He was allowed to stay at his enlarged size by being employed as a living swing ride for a carnival as his "one true place".<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Short Stuff|url= |access-date= |series=]|first= |last= |network=]|date=January 2, 2004|season=1|number=29|language=en}}</ref>

The 2022 film '']'' (] title: 'Calcinculo'), directed by Chiara Bellosi, is a coming of age story set in the world of travelling fairs. It recounts the friendship between a young girl seeking to escape her family and a ] from a family of ]. Its title is a play on the Italian name for Swing-Rides (''Calcinculo'' "kick up the arse"), and refers both to the ride and to the blows and setbacks that girls receive during adolescence.<ref name="film calcinculo">{{cite news |last1=Finos |first1=Arianna |title=Berlinale, 'Calcinculo', la fiaba di Chiara Bellosi: "È come un universo che si espande" |url=https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/cinema/2022/02/13/news/berlinale_calcinculo_di_chiara_bellosi-337484753/ |access-date=30 July 2023 |agency=La Republicca |date=13 February 2022}}</ref>


==References==
]
{{Reflist|33em}}
]


==External links==
]
*{{Commonscatinline|Swing rides}}
]
{{Amusement rides}}
]
]

Latest revision as of 20:09, 9 October 2024

Type of amusement ride For the 2022 film, see Swing Ride.Not to be confused with Pendulum ride.
A Chair-O-Planes ride with a tilting top
A woman on a swing ride at the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
Video of "Slänggungan" at Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Chair-O-Planes or "Kettenkarussell" (chain-carousel) at the Roonkarker Mart fair, Germany
Around the World

The swing ride or chair swing ride (sometimes called a swing carousel, wave swinger, yo-yo, waver swinger, Chair-O-Planes, Dodo or swinger) 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.

History

Hollycombe Steam Collection has a chair-o-planes adapted from a bomb damaged roundabout in 1944.

A Chair-O-Planes premiered in Germany in 1972, designed by Zierer and built by Franz Schwarzkopf, brother of Anton Schwarzkopf. In 1974 the first portable unit debuted under the same partnership. Since then Zierer has built about 200 units. Other manufacturers have followed creating their own versions of the Chair-O-Planes, including Zamperla, Chance Rides, Grover Watkins, Bertazzon, Preston & Barbieri, Vekoma, and Sanoyas Hishino Meisho.

In the late 2000s, Austrian manufacturer Funtime developed the world's first tower swinger, known as the Star Flyer. Mondial followed with their WindSeeker, resulting in a lawsuit between the two companies. Zamperla also sells a Vertical Swing.

Locations

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2011)

Europe

Austria

The Prater Turm located in the Wurstelprater in Vienna opened in 2010 at a height of 117 metres (384 ft).

Denmark

The Star Flyer, located in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, affords sweeping views of the city's historical centre. The Swing Carousel also located in Tivoli Gardens Copenhagen.

France

Les Chaises Volantes in Walibi Sud-Ouest is a Zierer model from 1987 which was relocated to the park in 1992.

Germany

In Germany, swing rides are often found on fairs, Volksfests like the Oktoberfest and traveling funfairs. But swing rides are also common in amusement parks. Most of the German swing rides are from Zierer.

Some of these include:

Italy

In Italy, most swing rides travel with fairs. The ride is called "Seggiolini volanti" ("Flying chairs") or "calcinculo", which literally means "kick in the bottom". Two people sit in contiguous seats, and the one sitting behind kicks or pushes their partner higher in the air, in order to reach a "tail" suspended beyond normal reach at a point in the ride's rotation. Any individual who manages to grab the tail wins a free ride.

Netherlands

Attractiepark Slagharen located the same Chair-O-Plane as Loundoun Castle.

Some Swing rides in the Netherlands:

Norway

Sverrehusken a Wellenflieger at TusenFryd (Norway) in 2011

The second-largest amusement park within the Nordic countries is Tusenfryd (lit. “daisies”), located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) outside the capital city Oslo, Norway. Tusenfryd features a Wellenflieger called Sverrehusken (“swear the chairs”) that has been in-operation since 1988. Sverrehusken was the first ride of its kind in the Nordic countries.

At Kongeparken (lit. ‘the royal park’), located 10 km outside the third-largest city in Norway, Stavanger, is a Wellenflieger named Spinnvidle (“spin-wheel”) that has been in-operation since 2012. Spinnvidle is the first of its kind in Norway with double seats.

Sweden

The Swedish name for Swing ride is Slänggunga or Kättingflygare. At Gröna Lund, Stockholm, a swing ride with the name "Eclipse" can be found. With its 121.9 metres (400 ft), it shares the "world's second tallest" title with SkyScreamer in Texas, North America.

The biggest amusement park in the Nordic countries is Liseberg, in Sweden's second largest city Gothenburg. Liseberg is the home of a Swing ride named "Slänggungan".

Spain

United Kingdom

Monkey Swinger with water fountains at Chessington World of Adventures

Loudoun Castle Theme Park in Scotland claimed that its moon-shaped ride, "The Plough", was the largest Chair-O-Plane in the world. The Plough was originally called Apollo 14 and was owned by the Bembom family, operating in their Ponypark Slagharen in the Netherlands during the late seventies. It had gondolas travelling around the outside of the ride. When moved to Dreamland in England (then called "Bembom Brothers"), it was reconstructed into a Chair-O-Plane and named Heatwave. Leaving Dreamland, it opened in Lightwater Valley in 1998 where it operated until 2003 when Henk Bembom moved Heatwave to his new park, Loudoun Castle, where it was renamed "The Plough" and painted green. The park has been closed since 2010.

Until 2016, there was a Chair-O-Plane ride at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. Called Twirling Toadstool it was set in a fantasy themed area of the park called Cloud Cukoo Land, it was themed as a giant mushroom. This was formerly themed as a prehistoric dinosaur-type ride and located in an area called Ug Land.

You can also find a Chair-O-Plane at Carters Steam Fair which is one of the largest vintage travelling funfairs including some steam driven rides. Their ride's past is a little patchy but is thought to have been built in Germany in the 1920s and imported to Britain with a blank canvas. It's generally the case that British roundabouts run clockwise, whereas their Continental and American counterparts run anti-clockwise. The Chair-o-Plane certainly runs the right direction to be a British-built ride, but it may have been adapted by an early owner.

Adventure Island has a Chair-O-Plane called Archelon, which was themed to the extinct species of turtle of the same name.

Chessington World of Adventures is home to a monkey-themed Chair-O-Planes, named the "Monkey Swinger", that squirts water at riders. This formerly had a theme based on Billy Whizz of The Beano.

Paultons Park is also home to a Chair-O-Planes called "The Sky Swinger". This ride opened in 2008 and is a Zierer model.

Butlins is home to three Chair-O-Planes, one at each site, located at Butlins Minehead, Butlins Bognor Regis, and Butlins Skegness. Butlins Minehead is home to a Zierer Wave Swinger, and the other two resorts manufacturers are unknown.

North America

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Wave Swinger ride at Playland, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The Gunslinger ride at Six Flags Over Texas.
The 301-foot WindSeeker is found at several Cedar Fair parks; above is at Cedar Point, Lake Erie, Sandusky, OH.
DC Super-Villains Swing is located at several Six Flags parks; pictured is of Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL.

Most of the traditional-style swing carousel rides in North America are found in amusement parks, as well as at many seasonal fairs and carnivals. They are usually made by Zierer (which calls the ride ‘Wave Swinger’), although some are made by Bertazzon (which calls the ride ‘Swing Carousel’) or Zamperla (which calls it ‘Flying Carousel’ or ‘Lollyswings’).

In recent years, many American amusement parks have opened towering (and considerably more thrilling) models, such as the WindSeeker (by Mondial) or the Sky Screamer (by SNS). These high-thrill swing rides are normally a minimum of 100 feet (30.48 m) tall, with several even surpassing 200’ (60.96 m). The Texas and New England Six Flags parks have Sky Screamers measuring 400’ (121.92 m).

North American swing rides include:

South America

Asia and Oceania

Australia

New Zealand

  • Chair-o-Plane – Mahons Amusements (Carnival Ride Operator)

Malaysia

Spinner had dismantled when the Genting Outdoor Theme Park closed since 1 September 2013 to make way for the world's first 20th Century Fox World, which was completed by 2021.

Africa

South Africa

Popular culture

The Metalocalypse episode "Motherklok" features a Wave Slinger.

A Chair-O-Planes is featured on the cover of Dave Matthews Band's 1994 album Under the Table and Dreaming. The liner note credit lists the site of this photo as Sandusky, Ohio, which is the location of Cedar Point.

In John Updike's short story "You'll Never Know Dear How Much I Love You" he mentions a WhirloGig.

At the end of the Lilo & Stitch: The Series episode "Short Stuff", Experiment 297, a crab-like alien who was accidentally enlarged by his creator Jumba Jookiba's growth ray and given the name "Shortstuff", has the ability to swivel his body from the waist up. He was allowed to stay at his enlarged size by being employed as a living swing ride for a carnival as his "one true place".

The 2022 film Swing Ride (Italian title: 'Calcinculo'), directed by Chiara Bellosi, is a coming of age story set in the world of travelling fairs. It recounts the friendship between a young girl seeking to escape her family and a transgirl from a family of show people. Its title is a play on the Italian name for Swing-Rides (Calcinculo "kick up the arse"), and refers both to the ride and to the blows and setbacks that girls receive during adolescence.

References

  1. "Steam Chair-o-Planes". hollycombe.co.uk. Hollycombe Working Steam Museum. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  2. ^ David Burton. "Waveswinger". Amusement Ride Extravaganza web site. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  3. "Family Swinger". Zamperla. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  4. "Midi Family Swinger". Zamperla. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  5. "Yo-yo". Chance Rides. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  6. "Swinger". The Flat Joint. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  7. "Swing Carousel". Bertazzon. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  8. "Star Flyer". Funtime. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  9. Jackson, Tom (25 August 2010). "Cedar Fair says patent dispute won't halt development of new rides". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  10. Jackson, Tom (18 August 2010). "Ride wars at Cedar Point?". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  11. "Vertical Swing". Zamperla. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  12. Dell'Acua, Silvio. "Calcinculo". Laputa.it. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  13. "Eclipse". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  14. "SkyScreamer". Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  15. KG, ZIERER Karussell-und Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH & Co. "Wave Swingers". www.zierer.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  16. "Swing rides for sale – Bertazzon 3B". www.bertazzon.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  17. "FLYING CAROUSEL | A classic oscillating wave swinger". Zamperla. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  18. "WindSeeker | Swing Ride | Cedar Point". www.cedarpoint.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  19. "All Rides & Amusements | Kemah Boardwalk". www.kemahboardwalk.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  20. wdd. "Thrill Rides | Beech Bend Amusement Park | Bowling Green, KY". Beech Bend Park. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  21. "Short Stuff". Lilo & Stitch: The Series. Season 1. Episode 29. January 2, 2004. Disney Channel.
  22. Finos, Arianna (13 February 2022). "Berlinale, 'Calcinculo', la fiaba di Chiara Bellosi: "È come un universo che si espande"". La Republicca. Retrieved 30 July 2023.

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