Rock-O-Plane
Encyclopedia
Amusement ride
Amusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...
designed by Lee Eyerly
Lee Eyerly
Lee Ulrich Eyerly was an American civil aviation pioneer and amusement ride manufacturer.-Early life:Eyerly was born February 22 1892 in Cuba, Illinois, and raised in Canton. In 1909, his family moved to the Judith Basin area of Montana to take advantage of the Homestead Act. Because he was...
in 1948 and manufactured by the Eyerly Aircraft Company of Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
.
It is sometimes nicknamed "the cages". Its shape is similar to that of a Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
, but with seats that are enclosed and rock and roll as the ride turns. If the rocking builds sufficient momentum the seats will flip upside-down and end-over-end. There is usually a wheel inside that participants can use to lock the seat and prevent it from rocking. This can be used to make the ride less scary by ensuring that the seats don't rock too much; or to make it more intense by locking the seats at crucial points in the ride's revolution, causing the seats to flip upside down and spin erratically. The minimum rider height requirement is 36 inches.
In the UK many of these rides are still traveling and most were imported from the US in the 1980s. Some of these traveling examples have had their standard 'egg' shaped cages replaced with front-facing open cars. These rides are known as 'sky dancer' usually or in one case 'hi impact'. The ride packs down onto one trailer as the center pole folds down on a hydraulic ram. The arms all fold inwards and the cages are unbolted from them and secured to the side of the trailer. The paybox usually sits on the rear of the trailer.
External links
- Rock-O-Plane page at Ride Extravaganza http://www.ride-extravaganza.com/
- Rock-O-Plane page at All The Fun of the Fair http://www.fun-fairs.co.uk
- Rock-O-Plane page at Kansas Based Carnival http://www.lewellenamusements.com/
- Rock-O-Plane Pictures at Ultimate Rollercoaster http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/