Enterprise (ride)
The Enterprise is an amusement ride type of Schwarzkopf GmbH Münsterhausen, Maschinenfabrik Huss Rides from Bremen and from Heinz Fähtz.
Created in 1973, the Enterprise was in the 1970s and 1980s as one of the most popular overhead rides on German folk festivals. On a rim with 18 to 22 meters in diameter free -swinging two-person gondolas are attached to the outside. The motor accelerates, the wheel 14 turns per minute, whereby the passenger is urged by the centrifugal force generated in the seat. Thereafter, the arm lifts the wheel up to an angle of almost 90 degrees. In this position, the passenger all four phases of the loop undergoes free sitting. There are no passenger restraint systems are used, the riders are held solely by the acceleration in the seat. The gondolas are however locked while driving with a grid.
Until the early 1990s into about ten of these mobile rides in Germany were in use, alone two guest appearances every year, including 1990 at the Munich Oktoberfest. Between 1994 and 2004, the Ride Type Enterprise was no longer based on the Theresienwiese.
Schwarzkopf
The first enterprise of Schwarzkopf was built in 1973. She'd like the Enterprise II, which had only another podium, 16 gondolas for a total of 32 people. In 1975, Enterprise III with 21 gondolas on the market. In 1978, the company's Enterprise IV, again with 16 gondolas, as mobile and stationary version. More than 20 rides of this type were built by Schwarzkopf. A Schwarzkopf Enterprise can be found in Attractiepark Slagharen (Netherlands).
Huss
Since 1975, both mobile and stationary systems of Huss, were produced as an improved replica of the Schwarzkopf business. The carousel of Huss have 20 gondolas and a hydraulically driven arm. Overall Huss presented about 50 deliveries this ride type forth. 1979, a larger version called Sky Lab was presented with 15 gondolas for four passengers, but built only three times.
The only one still in Germany operated, mobile Huss Enterprise is owned by the showman family Zehle from Munich, named after the moon lift, is able to reverse and is represented again at the Munich Oktoberfest since 2005. Fixed systems can be found for example in the leisure Geiselwind, Heide-Park or Serengeti Park. In the 1980s, a Huss Enterprise was installed in the Prater before the Wiener Riesenrad.
At times, guesting showmen from the Netherlands with an enterprise on German festivals.
Heinz Fähtz
Heinz Fähtz also made several replicas of the Schwarzkopf Enterprise ago with 16 gondolas. The last known model is in free Darien Lake Theme Park in New York, United States.
Other variants
From various other Czech manufacturers a version of the Enterprise with 16 gondolas built for two passengers under the name Centrifuga. Unlike the other manufacturers, the rider sitting here next to no - one behind the other.
Accident
On the night of 13 to 14 August 1981, with a Sky Lab, a serious accident occurred at the Hamburg Cathedral. When working on his ride catapult the telescopic crane showman Norbert Witte came to the driving range of the nacelles of the carousel. Seven people were killed and 15 people were injured, some serious injuries. The accident is still regarded as the heaviest funfair accident history of the Federal Republic. Norbert Witte was convicted of negligent homicide and assault to imprisonment for a term of one year on probation.
Other Names
The ride "Enterprise " is also known by other names, eg " The Moon ", " Moon Lift", "Sky Lab" or " Super - Passat".