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Wave Swinger |
The Wave Swinger is an amusement ride, often called a "swing" or "swinger" ride, like a Yo-Yo or Chair-o-Planes. However the Wave Swinger's unique design separates it from most other swing rides, as the canopy from which the swings are hung tilts and turns this tilt counterclockwise to the rides clockwise spin, flying riders through "waves", unlike other swing rides which only spin around.
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The Wave Swinger premiered in Germany in 1972 as a park model designed by Zierer and built by Franz Schwartzkopf. In 1974 the first portable Wellenflug, as it is known in its home country of Germany, debuted under the same partnership. Since this time there have been over 150 units exported worldwide by Zierer who later went on to be the Wave Swinger’s sole manufacturer.
The Wave Swinger’s popularity continues into the 21st century with Zierer offering five different sized units for 24, 32, 40, 48 and 64 persons, all elegantly decorated with the hand-painted Bavarian/Baroque scenery that riders and owners have come to love.
As the name suggests, the ride moves in an oscillating, wavelike motion as the top rises telescopically, tilting at its peak, flinging riders of young and old into the cool breeze at 30km/h (10 rpm). The rotating top is raised via 4 sets of cables linked to a hydraulic ram inside the central column. The ram then retracts, pulling the cables that lift the centre ring (and attached carousel) upwards; eventually tilting over a curve in top of the central pole, which rotates in the opposite direction to create the ride’s oscillating motion. (this moving centre-pole remains hidden under the fibreglass panelling)
Due to the appealing nature of swing rides, various other manufacturers offer their own versions including, Bertazzon as a "swing carousel", Barbieri, Zamperla, Vekoma, Meisho; and primarily for the North American market – Watkins Swinger and Chance’s Yo-Yo.
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