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Funtime (manufacturer)

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Funtime
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1998 (1998)
Headquarters
Dölsach, Tyrol
,
Austria
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAmusement rides
Websitewww.funtime.com.au

Funtime is an amusement ride manufacturer based in Dölsach, Austria and Bundall, Australia.[1][2] The company manufactures rides such as the Sling Shot, Star Flyer, and Vomatron.[3]

Ride Entertainment handles the distribution and operation of rides in North America.[4]

History

[edit]

In 1998, Funtime was established in the suburb of Bundall on the Gold Coast, Australia.[1] Shortly after, the company opened a small amusement park in Surfers Paradise, a nearby Gold Coast suburb. At the time, the amusement park was known as Adrenalin Park and featured the company's Sling Shot and Vomatron rides.[5][6][7]

In 2010, Funtime threatened legal action against Dutch amusement ride manufacturer, Mondial, after that company unveiled the WindSeeker which bears similarities to Funtime's patented Star Flyer ride.[1][8] Mondial responded to the threat by stating that "there is no merit to Funtime's claim".[9] The matter did not progress.

In 2015 Funtime and Ride Entertainment Group partnered to open 2 Sing Shot rides at Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario, Canada) and Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA).[10] They would both would continue to open additional rides in North America, as well as beginning to unveil Star Flyers at Six Flag amusement parks under this partnership.[11]

Products

[edit]
A Star Flyer
  • The Bell – a ride similar to a Frisbee, except they are located inside a giant bell[12]
  • Chaos Pendle – riders are mounted on the ends of several arms and spun around in a propeller-like fashion[13]
  • Rocket – riders are harnessed into a rocket shaped car which is raised into the air and spun around a tower and on its own axis[14]
  • Sky Diver – an amusement ride similar to a Skycoaster where riders are winched to the top of a launch tower and then dropped towards the ground, swinging from a cable tether back and forth until brought to a rest[15]
  • Sling Shot – a reverse bungee ride where passengers are propelled over 100 metres at speeds in the region of 160 kilometres per hour. The machine does not utilise rubber ropes or bungee cords as in a slingshot, but is powered by a patented spring propulsion device incorporating up to 720 specially-designed springs. The SlingShot can be custom designed to cause minimal disruption to existing venues.
  • Star Flyer – a variation of the traditional swing ride where riders are swung around the top of a tower[16]
  • Tornado – a ride that simulates a tornado by sending riders in a figure-eight motion[17]
  • Vomatron – a type of ride similar to the centrifuges used in astronaut training, except on a vertical axis[6]
  • Skyfall – currently the highest transportable drop tower in the world with a height of 85 metres (279 ft)[18]

Ride installations

[edit]
Ride name Park Location Model Opened Status Details
Adirondack Outlaw Six Flags Great Escape United States United States Vomatron 2021 Operating
Allgäuflieger Skyline Park Germany Germany Star Flyer 2020 Operating One of The Tallest Swing Rides in the world. 465–493 feet (142–150 m)
AtmosFear Playland Canada Canada Star Flyer 2011 Operating
Black Mamba Wiener Prater Austria Austria Chaos Pendle 2011 Operating
Catwoman Whip Six Flags St. Louis United States United States Vomatron 2022 Operating
Catapult Lagoon United States United States Sling Shot 2002 Operating
Die Glocke Hansa-Park Germany Germany The Bell 2006 Removed 2019 Replaced by Awilda's World
Donjon de l’Extrême Nigloland France France Skyfall 2016 Operating
Drop Line Dollywood United States United States Skyfall 2017 Operating
Eclipse Gröna Lund Sweden Sweden Star Flyer 2013 Operating [19]
El Grito Djurs Sommerland Denmark Denmark Skyfall 2024 Operating 60 meters (200 feet) tall.
FlyOver Fantasilandia Chile Chile Star Flyer 2018 Operating
HangOver The Tower Ewald Schneider Germany Germany Skyfall 2015 Operating Travels on the fair circuit and is 85 meters (279 feet) tall.
Highlander Hansa-Park Germany Germany Skyfall 2019 Operating 395 feet (120 meters) tall.
Himmelskibet Tivoli Gardens Denmark Denmark Star Flyer 2006 Operating
Lighthouse Tower Holiday Park Germany Germany Star Flyer 2006 Operating
Merlí Tibidabo Amusement Park Spain Spain Skyfall 2024 Under construction 50 meters (160 feet) tall.
Merlin and the Magic Circle Freizeit-Land Geiselwind Germany Germany Sling Shot 2021 Operating
Mega Mindy Flyer Plopsa Coo Belgium Belgium Star Flyer 2010 Operating
New England SkyScreamer Six Flags New England United States United States Star Flyer 2014 Operating Eighth Starflyer at a Six Flags park; 403-feet tall.[20]
North Star Valleyfair United States United States Star Flyer 2017 Operating 230 feet (70.1 m) tall.[21][22]
Orlando FreeFall ICON Park United States United States Skyfall 2021 Removed 2022 The ride was closed after the fall related death of Tyre Sampson, aged 14, in March 2022.[23]
Orlando Slingshot ICON Park United States United States Sling Shot 2021 Operating
Orlando StarFlyer ICON Park United States United States Star Flyer 2018 Operating Opened as the World's Tallest Swing ride at 450 feet tall.
Prater Turm Wiener Prater Austria Austria Star Flyer 2010 Operating 385 feet (117 meters) tall
ROX-Flyer
Formerly SpringFlyer		 Plopsaland Belgium Belgium Star Flyer 2006 Operating
Sky Diver Walibi Holland Netherlands Netherlands Sky Diver 1994 Operating
Sky Diver Walibi Belgium Belgium Belgium Sky Diver 2004 Removed 2006
SkyFall Michael Goetzke Germany Germany Skyfall 2013 Operating Travels on the fair circuit and is 80 meters (260 feet) tall.
SkyFall Superland Israel Israel Skyfall 2024 Under construction
Six Flags SkyScreamer Six Flags Darien Lake United States United States Star Flyer 2019 Operating
SkyScreamer Six Flags Discovery Kingdom United States United States Star Flyer 2011 Operating
SkyScreamer Six Flags Great Adventure United States United States Star Flyer 2012 Operating [24]
SkyScreamer Six Flags Over Georgia United States United States Star Flyer 2013 Operating [25]
SkyScreamer Six Flags St. Louis United States United States Star Flyer 2011 Operating
Sky Shot Skyline Park Germany Germany Sling Shot 2000 Operating 90 meters tall
Sling Shot Funtime Australia Australia Sling Shot Unknown Operating [5]
Sling Shot Magical Midway United States United States Sling Shot Unknown Removed 2024
Sling Shot Kentucky Kingdom United States United States Sling Shot 2002 Operating
Sling Shot Elitch Gardens United States United States Sling Shot 2006 Operating
Sling Shot Six Flags Magic Mountain United States United States Sling Shot 2012 Removed 2019 Last operated in 2019 and never reopened due to high maintenance costs. Removed in September 2022.
Sling Shot Six Flags Great Adventure United States United States Sling Shot 2011 Operating
Sling Shot Six Flags St. Louis United States United States Sling Shot 2002 2008
Sling Shot Six Flags Mexico Mexico Mexico Sling Shot 2013 Operating 60 meters tall.[26]
Sling Shot Carowinds United States United States Sling Shot 2015 Operating
Sling Shot Cedar Point United States United States Sling Shot 2015 Operating
Sling Shot Kings Island United States United States Sling Shot 2002 2022
Sling Shot Canada's Wonderland Canada Canada Sling Shot 2015 Operating
Sling Shot Al-Shallal Theme Park Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Sling Shot Unknown Operating
Sling Shot Old Town United States United States Sling Shot November 2001 Operating
Snake Gröna Lund Sweden Sweden Chaos Pendle 2019 Operating
Spring Shot Morey's Piers United States United States Sling Shot Unknown Operating
Star Flyer Divo Ostrov Russia Russia Star Flyer Unknown Operating
Sling Shot Parko Paliatso Cyprus Cyprus Sling Shot 1999 Operating 90 meters tall.
Star Flyer Elitch Gardens United States United States Star Flyer 2017 Operating 17 stories tall.[27][21]
Star Flyer Greenland Kyushu Japan Japan Star Flyer 2012 Operating
Star Flyer Allou Fun Park Greece Greece Star Flyer 2008 Operating
Star Flyer Luna Park Tel Aviv Israel Israel Star Flyer 2016 Operating
Star Flyer Magical Midway United States United States Star Flyer 2006 Removed 2024
Star Flyer Manchester Town Centre United Kingdom United Kingdom Star Flyer Unknown Operating
Star Flyer Nagashima Spa Land Japan Japan Star Flyer 2012 Operating Height of around 63.4 metres (208 ft)
Star Flyer Oktoberfest Germany Germany Star Flyer Unknown Unknown
Star Flyer Pacific National Exhibition Canada Canada Star Flyer Unknown Unknown
Star Flyer Parque de Atracciones de Madrid Spain Spain Star Flyer 2010 Operating 80 meters tall
Star Flyer Steel Pier United States United States Star Flyer N/A Never Materialized [28]
Star Flyer Tykkimäki Finland Finland Star Flyer 2009 Operating
Stars Flyer
Formerly Bollywood Skyflyer		 Real Madrid World United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Star Flyer 2021 Operating Tallest swing ride in the world at 460 feet in height, was manufactured and intended for the cancelled Six Flags Dubai.[29]
Stupet Kongeparken Norway Norway Skyfall 2019 Operating
Supergirl Sky Flight
Formerly SkyScreamer		 Six Flags Fiesta Texas United States United States Star Flyer 2012 Operating [24]
Supergirl Sky Flight
Formerly SkyScreamer		 Six Flags Mexico Mexico Mexico Star Flyer 2015 Operating [20]
Tekkotsubanchou - Sky Tower Swinger Fuji-Q Highland Japan Japan Star Flyer Unknown Operating First Skyflyer in Japan.[30]
Texas Gunslinger Six Flags Fiesta Texas United States United States Sling Shot 2013 Operating
Texas SkyScreamer Six Flags Over Texas United States United States Star Flyer 2013 Operating [19][31]
Texas Star Flyer Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier United States United States Star Flyer 2012 Operating [32]
Tornado Terra Mítica Spain Spain Star Flyer 2015 Operating
Torre del Mar Hansa-Park Germany Germany Star Flyer 2005 Removed 2015
Tornado Wiener Prater Austria Austria Tornado 2007 Operating
Vol Ultime La Ronde Canada Canada Star Flyer 2012 Operating [33]
Vomatron Funtime Australia Australia Vomatron Unknown Operating [6]
Vomatron Old Town United States United States Vomatron Unknown Operating
Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth Six Flags America United States United States Star Flyer 2017 Operating 242 feet (73.8 m) ft tall.[21]
Unknown COTAland United States United States Star Flyer 2025 Under construction
Unknown COTAland United States United States Skyfall 2025 Under construction

Amusement park

[edit]
Adrenalin Park in 2007

Funtime operates a small amusement park in the centre of Surfers Paradise, aptly named Funtime.[7] The park features installations of their Sling Shot and Vomatron rides.[5][6] The park was previously known as Adrenalin Park and featured several other rides and attractions, including an Intamin Parachute Drop tower, a mini golf course and a bungee tower.[34][35]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Slind-Flor, Victoria (27 August 2010). "Cedar Fair's New Thrill Ride Infringes Patent, Funtime Claims". Bloomberg. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Contact Details for Funtime". www.funtime.com.au. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  3. ^ "SkyScreamer: Extreme swings thrill and terrify". CNET. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Funtime Takes Flight StarFlyers Soar Across North America | rideentertainment.com". Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Sling Shot (Funtime)". Parkz.
  6. ^ a b c d "Vomatron (Funtime)". Parkz.
  7. ^ a b "Funtime". Parkz. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  8. ^ US patent 7666103, Walter Pondorfer & Laurence Ross Petrie, "Amusement ride", published 27 October 2005, issued 23 February 2010, assigned to Cottingham Agencies Ltd. 
  9. ^ Fogarty, Steve (25 August 2010). "Cedar Point's new ride a swing at variety". Chronicle Online. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  10. ^ "Ride Entertainment Brings Funtime's Slingshot to Canada's Wonderland and Carowinds". InPark Magazine. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Funtime Takes Flight StarFlyers Soar Across North America | rideentertainment.com". Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  12. ^ "The Bell". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Chaos Pendle". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Rocket". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  15. ^ "Sky Diver". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  16. ^ Jackson, Jerry W.; Kassab, Beth (23 January 2006). "StarFlyer takes riders for a twirl". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  17. ^ "Tornado". Funtime. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  18. ^ "About Skyfall". Funtime. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  19. ^ a b "Officially the world's tallest Star Flyer!". Park World Magazine. Datateam Business Media Limited. 13 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Funtime Thrills Riders Across The Globe". Ride Entertainment. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  21. ^ a b c "Funtime Takes Flight StarFlyers Soar Across North America". Ride Entertainment. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  22. ^ "The Stars Align in 2017 For New Thrills at Valleyfair!". valley-fair.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  23. ^ "Boy, 14, dies after falling from FreeFall ride at ICON Park in Orlando". 25 March 2022.
  24. ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (1 September 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  25. ^ "Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water Announce New Thrills for 2013" (PDF). SixFlags.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  26. ^ "Ninth StarFlyer Soars at Six Flags Mexico". Ride Entertainment. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  27. ^ "New for 2017 - Star Flyer - Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park". www.elitchgardens.com. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  28. ^ MacDonald, Brady (12 April 2012). "Steel Pier expansion moves forward minus diving horse act". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  29. ^ Saundalkar, Aarti (13 January 2021). "Bollywood Parks Dubai relaunches with world's tallest swing ride and many more". whatson.ae. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Height 50m over! One of the largest swing ride in Japan!". 富士急ハイランド. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Texas SkyScreamer" (PDF). SixFlags.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  32. ^ MacDonald, Brady (9 February 2012). "Galveston Pleasure Pier brings thrill rides back to Texas coast". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  33. ^ Mayné, François (22 January 2012). "La Ronde annonce Vol Ultime pour son 45ème anniversaire". NewsParcs (in French). Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  34. ^ "Unknown Parachute Drop (Magic Mountain)". Parkz.
  35. ^ Tuttiett, Henry (25 September 2010). "Coast's Adrenalin Park to close". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
[edit]
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