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 66-foot (20 m) arm mounted to four 90 kW DC motors at the midpoint. A 40-seat gondola is mounted on one end of the arm, with passengers sitting in eight rows, four on 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 gondola 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 gondola 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 passengers' stomachs, keeping them pinned to the seats. 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. The minimum rider height requirement is 48 inches.

Transportable versions of this ride can be racked on two 40-foot 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.
• Looping Star is another Ranger variant which was in operation at Long Island's Adventureland for much of the 80's decade. Video footage of this ride can be seen in Chaka Khan's "Love Of A Lifetime" (1986) music video.
• The Screamin' Eagle at Seabreeze Amusement Park is similar to the Ranger, the only differences being that the ride's appearance is that of an eagle, and there is no floor, making it a foot-dangling ride. Otherwise, the ride operates the same way.
• Phantom Is A Ranger Malfunctered By TP. The Certain Differences Is It Has One Arm Instead Of Two And The Ride Is Inverted.

Appearances

There are approximately 30 Rangers operating as of 2006.

• Australia - One Ranger, at Luna Park Sydney.
• Germany - At least two : at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind and Hansa Park.
• Italy - One Ranger, at Zoosafari Fasanolandia.
• Romania - One Ranger, at Luna Park in Mamaia, outside the city of Constanta (August 2012)

External links

• Amusement Ride Extravaganza - Ranger