U.K. Park Opens S&S Power Thrill Rides For Back-to-Back Seasons
In this age of high-tech rides few things can still put a scare in amusement park guests. But, some parks still try to push the envelope. Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells, England came to S&S Power requesting the tallest vertical
thrill ride in England. The Utah-based company suggested their newest speed sensation- the Sky Sling. After seeing how well the ride performed at various U.S. facilities the British amusement park bought one, dubbed Absolutely Insane, for the 2004 season.
The thrilling ride is actually very simple. Each of the three towers has a cable that connects to the ride vehicle. A drive system uses compressed air to shoot screaming thrill-seekers hundreds of feet skyward twice during the operating cycle. Obviously excited about the new ride park spokesman Geoff Barry said, “It will be pulling 2.5 G and we think it will be the equivalent of what an astronaut feels in a space rocket.”
The Sky Sling’s most exciting aspect is that the vehicle is pre-programmed to rotate the seats headfirst when they reach the apex. Guests go from looking at the sky to the ground in less than a nano-second. Needless to say, the rush is incredible. Eric Gieszl, head of the popular thrill-rider website Ultimate Roller Coaster, said, “When you’re 300 feet in the air the last thing you’ll want to do is move and the flip forward will have your heart skipping beats.”
The Absolutely Insane was installed one year after the park retrofitted their S&S Space Shot with the unique Tilt Seats. The Volcanic Eruption, which opened in 1998, started the 2003 season with new seats that promised to take riders over the edge.
The Tilt Seats load like a normal Shot Shot tower ride. However, shortly after take-off the Tilt Seats rotate forward forty-five degrees, which allows guests to look almost 200 feet straight down. With a small investment Fantasy Island turned an existing attraction into a marketable new ride that helped drive attendance.
The powerful combination of the Sky Sling and the Tilt Seat Tower made Fantasy Island the destination for adrenaline junkies in Europe. To talk with a Thrill Specialist about adding one of these exciting rides to your park call Ride Entertainment Systems, S&S Power’s worldwide sales representative, at +1-410-643-9300. To go for a virtual ride on the Sky Sling visit Ride Entertainment Systems’ website at www.rideentertainment.com.
On the Web:
Fantasy Island- http://www.fantasyisland.co.uk
S&S Power- http://www.s-spower.com
Ride Entertainment Systems- http://www.rideentertainment.com