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{{Short description|Modern type of fairground ride}}
:''Not to be confused with [[bungee jumping]].''
{{distinguish|bungee jumping}}

[[Image:Power Shot - Reverse Bungee 02.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A reverse bungee launch with the passenger car nearing the top of the launch.]]
[[Image:Power Shot - Reverse Bungee 02.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A reverse bungee launch with the passenger car nearing the top of the launch.]]
[[Image:Power Shot - Reverse Bungee.jpg|thumb|right|Passenger car immediately after launch.]]
[[Image:Power Shot - Reverse Bungee.jpg|thumb|right|Passenger car immediately after launch.]]


The '''reverse bungee''' (also known as '''catapult bungee or''' '''ejection seat''') is a modern type of [[fairground ride]] that was invented by Troy Griffin in c. 1978.<ref>[http://www.skyscreamer.co.nz/about.shtml] Skyscreamer website</ref> His dream was to create a safer, yet more extreme, bungee jumping experience.
The '''reverse bungee''' (also known as '''catapult bungee''', '''slingshot''', or '''ejection seat''') is a modern type of [[fairground ride]].


==Skyscreamer==
The ride consists of two telescopic gantry towers mounted on a platform, feeding two [[Elastomer|elastic]] ropes down to a two-person passenger car constructed from an open sphere of tubular steel. The passenger car is secured to the platform with an [[electro-magnet]]ic latch as the elastic ropes are stretched. When the electromagnet is turned off, the passenger car is catapulted vertically with a [[g-force]] of 3–5, reaching an altitude of between 50 and 80 metres (180–260&nbsp;ft).

The passenger sphere is free to rotate between the two ropes, giving the riders a chaotic and disorienting ride. After several bounces, the ropes are relaxed and the passengers are lowered back to the launch position.

==Slingshot==
[[File:Cedar Point SlingShot launch (1599).ogv|thumb|Video of [[SlingShot (Cedar Point)|SlingShot]] at [[Cedar Point]]]]
[[File:Cedar Point SlingShot launch (1599).ogv|thumb|Video of [[SlingShot (Cedar Point)|SlingShot]] at [[Cedar Point]]]]
The ride consists of two telescopic gantry towers mounted on a platform, feeding two [[Elastomer|elastic]] ropes down to a two-person passenger car constructed from an open sphere of tubular steel. The passenger car is secured to the platform with an [[electro-magnet]]ic latch as the elastic ropes are stretched. When the electromagnet is turned off, the passenger car is catapulted vertically with a [[g-force]] of 3–5, reaching an altitude of between {{convert|50|m|ft|0}} and {{convert|80|m|ft|0}}.{{cn|date=September 2023}}
The Slingshot manufactured by ''[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]'' uses steel cables and a patented spring propulsion device rather than elastic ropes. The current model can propel riders 150 m high at speeds of 160&nbsp;km per hour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funtime.com.au/data/index1.htm|title=Slingshot Introduction|accessdate=20 January 2012}}</ref>

==Safety and possible injury==
In August 1998, Jérôme Charron died in a reverse bungee ride accident at the [[Ottawa SuperEX|Ottawa Exhibition]] in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] when he was hurled 40 m into the air before plummeting to his death as his harness had detached. In February 2000, the firm responsible for the ride, Anderson Ventures, was fined $145,000 for this incident.


== Installations ==
Ordinarily, the bungee cord is changed to adjust the body weight of different riders. The operator in Ottawa instead used a lead between the carabiner and the bungee cord for this purpose. Using a lead is faster than changing the cord, so more rides can be offered; however, using a lead is less safe than switching bungee cords. The problem occurs when the lead cord wraps around the carabiner, tightens and through friction undoes the twisting safety mechanism that keeps the carabiner locked. In this case, the operator was using dual carabiners. On the bounce back up, the lead cord tightened, causing both carabiners to open. This fact was discovered by the Ottawa Police who investigated the death.<ref name ="Ride owner admits to alterations">[http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/05/25/bungee000525.html Ride owner admits to alterations], CBC News, 25 May 2000</ref> A video of the incident depicts it.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+
Provincial inspectors had inspected the ride just 4 days before the incident and approved it, but did not see the lead because it was in a nearby box.
!Name
!Park
!Country
!Manufacturer
!Opened
!Closed
!Details
|-
|SlingShot
|[[Canada's Wonderland]]
|{{flagicon|Canada}} Canada
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2015|2015
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights of nearly {{convert|300|ft|m|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadaswonderland.com/play/rides/slingshot|title=SlingShot {{!}} Canada's Wonderland|website=www.canadaswonderland.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://blooloop.com/news/ride-entertainment-launches-slingshot-rides-at-cedar-fair-parks/|title=Ride Entertainment Launches Slingshot Rides at Cedar Fair Parks Blooloop|website=Blooloop|date=8 July 2015 |access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|[[Carowinds]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2015
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights of up to {{convert|300|ft|m|1}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carowinds.com/play/rides/slingshot|title=SlingShot Amusement Ride {{!}} Carowinds|website=www.carowinds.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|SlingShot
|[[Cedar Point]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2014
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights of {{convert|360|ft|m|1}}. Located in Gemini Midway section of park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/rides/slingshot|title=SlingShot {{!}} Cedar Point|website=www.cedarpoint.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|Daytona Beach
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{no|2017}}
|Located on top of Boardwalk arcade. Removed after larger Sling Shot was added nearby.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20171205/daytona-boardwalks-iconic-slingshot-ride-comes-down|title=Daytona Boardwalk's iconic Slingshot ride comes down|author=Staff Report|website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|Daytona Beach Screamer's Park
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2017
|{{yes|Open}}
|Replaced smaller Sling Shot located on nearby rooftop. Uploads all on-ride videos to the park's [[YouTube]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsN8TLxCHqH_yNFGehUxwNQ|title=Screamer's Park Daytona Beach|website=YouTube|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|[[Jolly Roger Amusement Park]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|Monolithic structure towers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jollyrogerpieroc.com/attraction/slingshot/|title=Slingshot|website=Jolly Roger Pier Amusements Ocean City MD|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|[[Kings Island]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2002
|{{no|2022}}
|Reaches heights of {{convert|275|ft|m|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitkingsisland.com/play/rides/slingshot|title=The Slingshot Ride {{!}} Catapult Rides {{!}} Kings Island|website=www.visitkingsisland.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|Catapult
|[[Lagoon (amusement park)|Lagoon]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2002
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights over {{convert|200|ft|m|1|abbr=}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2002/4/12/19648576/lagoon-ready-to-unveil-new-ride-catapult|title=Lagoon ready to unveil new ride: Catapult|last=Arave|first=Lynn|date=2002-04-12|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lagoonpark.com/xventure/catapult/|title=Catapult {{!}} Lagoon|website=www.lagoonpark.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>
|-
|Orlando Slingshot
|[[ICON Park]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|Allegedly reaches heights over {{convert|390|ft|m|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.magicalmidway.com/sling-shot/|title=Sling Shot|website=www.magicalmidway.com|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref> The ride was closed for about six months for testing and additional employee training after the 2022 fall-related death of a teenager on the Orlando FreeFall ride operated at the same park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slingshot ride suspended at ICON Park amid FreeFall investigation |url=https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/attractions/2022/03/30/slingshot-ride-suspended-at-icon-park-amid-free-fall-investigation |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.mynews13.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|[[Old Town (amusement park)|Old Town]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|2001
|{{yes|Open}}
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.experiencekissimmee.com/things-to-do/attractions/old-town-slingshot-vomatron|title=Old Town Slingshot & Vomatron|date=2017-03-23|website=Experience Kissimmee|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|[[Six Flags Darien Lake]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights of {{convert|300|ft|m|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sixflags.com/darienlake/attractions/slingshot|title=Slingshot|website=Six Flags Darien Lake|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|Texas Gunslinger
|[[Six Flags Fiesta Texas]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|Monolithic structure towers. Also referred to as ''Slingshot''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sixflags.com/fiestatexas/attractions/slingshot|title=Slingshot|website=Six Flags Fiesta Texas|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>
|-
|Slingshot
|[[Six Flags Great Adventure]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights of {{convert|220|ft|m|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/attractions/slingshot|title=Slingshot|website=Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
|-
|Nightwing
|[[Six Flags New England]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|-
|Sling Shot
|Magical Midway
|{{flagicon|USA}} United States
|[[Funtime (manufacturer)|Funtime]]
|
|{{yes|Open}}
|Reaches heights of {{convert|240|ft|m|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/attractions/slingshot|title=NIGHTWING™|website=Six Flags New England|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref>
|}


==Safety issues==
Often when riding a reverse bungee, riders may experience temporary periods of reduced consciousness, which may lead into [[greyout]]s or [[syncope (medicine)|syncope]]. One notable occurrence in 2015 involved a rider blacking out<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2779328/Terrified-teen-passes-THREE-TIMES-Orlando-Sling-Shot-ride-s-catapulted-390ft-air.html</ref> whilst riding, with the shock of waking up at a great height inducing two successive blackouts.
In August 1998, Jérôme Charron died in a reverse bungee ride accident at the [[Ottawa SuperEX|Ottawa Exhibition]] in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] when he was hurled 40 m into the air before plummeting to his death as his harness had detached. In February 2000, the firm responsible for the ride, Anderson Ventures, was fined $145,000 for this incident.{{cn|date=September 2023}}


==References==
==References==
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{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.ride-extravaganza.com/thrill/bungee-rocket/ Amusement Ride Extravaganza]
* [http://www.ride-extravaganza.com/thrill/bungee-rocket/ Amusement Ride Extravaganza]
{{Amusement rides}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEMv0KVWXa0 Sling Shot]


[[Category:Amusement rides]]
[[Category:Amusement rides]]

Latest revision as of 19:42, 25 March 2024

Not to be confused with bungee jumping.
A reverse bungee launch with the passenger car nearing the top of the launch.
Passenger car immediately after launch.

The reverse bungee (also known as catapult bungee, slingshot, or ejection seat) is a modern type of fairground ride.

Video of SlingShot at Cedar Point

The ride consists of two telescopic gantry towers mounted on a platform, feeding two elastic ropes down to a two-person passenger car constructed from an open sphere of tubular steel. The passenger car is secured to the platform with an electro-magnetic latch as the elastic ropes are stretched. When the electromagnet is turned off, the passenger car is catapulted vertically with a g-force of 3–5, reaching an altitude of between 50 metres (164 ft) and 80 metres (262 ft).[citation needed]

Installations

[edit]
Name Park Country Manufacturer Opened Closed Details
SlingShot Canada's Wonderland Canada Canada Funtime 2015 Open Reaches heights of nearly 300 feet (91.4 m).[1][2]
Slingshot Carowinds United States United States Funtime 2015 Open Reaches heights of up to 300 feet (91.4 m).[2][3]
SlingShot Cedar Point United States United States Funtime 2014 Open Reaches heights of 360 feet (109.7 m). Located in Gemini Midway section of park.[4]
Slingshot Daytona Beach United States United States Funtime 2017 Located on top of Boardwalk arcade. Removed after larger Sling Shot was added nearby.[5]
Slingshot Daytona Beach Screamer's Park United States United States Funtime 2017 Open Replaced smaller Sling Shot located on nearby rooftop. Uploads all on-ride videos to the park's YouTube channel.[6]
Slingshot Jolly Roger Amusement Park United States United States Funtime Open Monolithic structure towers.[7]
Slingshot Kings Island United States United States Funtime 2002 2022 Reaches heights of 275 feet (83.8 m).[8]
Catapult Lagoon United States United States Funtime 2002 Open Reaches heights over 200 feet (61.0 m)[9][10]
Orlando Slingshot ICON Park United States United States Funtime Open Allegedly reaches heights over 390 feet (118.9 m).[11] The ride was closed for about six months for testing and additional employee training after the 2022 fall-related death of a teenager on the Orlando FreeFall ride operated at the same park.[12]
Slingshot Old Town United States United States Funtime 2001 Open [13]
Slingshot Six Flags Darien Lake United States United States Funtime Open Reaches heights of 300 feet (91.4 m).[14]
Texas Gunslinger Six Flags Fiesta Texas United States United States Funtime Open Monolithic structure towers. Also referred to as Slingshot.[15]
Slingshot Six Flags Great Adventure United States United States Funtime Open Reaches heights of 220 feet (67.1 m).[16]
Nightwing Six Flags New England United States United States Funtime Open
Sling Shot Magical Midway United States United States Funtime Open Reaches heights of 240 feet (73.2 m).[17]

Safety issues

[edit]

In August 1998, Jérôme Charron died in a reverse bungee ride accident at the Ottawa Exhibition in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada when he was hurled 40 m into the air before plummeting to his death as his harness had detached. In February 2000, the firm responsible for the ride, Anderson Ventures, was fined $145,000 for this incident.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SlingShot | Canada's Wonderland". www.canadaswonderland.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  2. ^ a b "Ride Entertainment Launches Slingshot Rides at Cedar Fair Parks Blooloop". Blooloop. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  3. ^ "SlingShot Amusement Ride | Carowinds". www.carowinds.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  4. ^ "SlingShot | Cedar Point". www.cedarpoint.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  5. ^ Staff Report. "Daytona Boardwalk's iconic Slingshot ride comes down". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  6. ^ "Screamer's Park Daytona Beach". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  7. ^ "Slingshot". Jolly Roger Pier Amusements Ocean City MD. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  8. ^ "The Slingshot Ride | Catapult Rides | Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  9. ^ Arave, Lynn (2002-04-12). "Lagoon ready to unveil new ride: Catapult". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  10. ^ "Catapult | Lagoon". www.lagoonpark.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  11. ^ "Sling Shot". www.magicalmidway.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  12. ^ "Slingshot ride suspended at ICON Park amid FreeFall investigation". www.mynews13.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  13. ^ "Old Town Slingshot & Vomatron". Experience Kissimmee. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  14. ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Darien Lake. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  15. ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  16. ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  17. ^ "NIGHTWING™". Six Flags New England. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
[edit]
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