Ranger (ride)

A Ranger is a HUSS manufactured inverting pendulum ride, first manufactured in 1981. Many of the design elements were later used in the HUSS Rainbow, and the term 'Ranger' has become synonymous with inverting pendulum rides. It was the first inverting "flat ride" designed since Lee Eyerly's Loop-O-Plane and set the standard for many of its successors, like the Kamikaze (ride), Looping Starship, Inverter, Ring of Fire, and Sky Flyer.

Design and operation

The ride consists of a single 66ft arm mounted to four 90kW DC motors at the midpoint. A 40-seat gondala is mounted on one end of the arm, with passengers sitting in eight rows, four each side of the arm, facing inwards. On the opposite end of the arm is a pair of counterweights. The side of the arm facing out to the crowd is decorated with an elaborate lighting array. The ride is designed to rock back and forth, before making several inversions, although the gondala can be inverted from a standing start. Unlike most pendulum rides, the Ranger is reliant primarily on the motors to invert, as opposed to momentum. The ride is capable of maintaining a speed of 8 revolutions per minute, and the gondala and arm weigh 65 tons.

Unlike most inverting rides, the Ranger uses a stomach restraint to secure passengers. A large rectangular pad is hydraulically pushed into the passenger's stomach, keeping them pinned to the seat. Keeping the stomach firm while the restraints are being deployed is enough to prevent major discomfort during the ride. This system is unique to the Ranger and directly copied designs. Minimum rider height requirement is 48 inches or taller.

Transportable versions of this ride can be racked on two 40ft trailers, one for the station platform, support arm, and ride arm, and the second carrying the gondala, lighting, and counterweights. The first trailer also acts as the base of the ride.

Variants

* WEBER's Traum Boot is very similar in design to the Ranger, the main difference being the side profile of the gondala is flat, as opposed to the banana-shaped profile of the Ranger.
* The Kamikaze amusement ride is commonly known as a double arm Ranger.

Appearances

There are approximately 30 Rangers operating as of 2006.
* Australia - One Ranger, at Luna Park Sydney.
* Germany - At least two.
* United States of America - One Ranger, at Darien Lake Theme Park Resort

External links

* [http://www.ride-extravaganza.com/rides/ranger/ Amusement Ride Extravaganza - Ranger]