The Gravitron was first manufactured by Wisdom in 1983 and is now their number one seller. Several units were also made under license by ARM (UK) and Ferrari (Australia) The ride can be found in countries all over the world. Wisdom brands their newer models “Starship 3000″
The ride movement can be summed up two words: centrifugal force - all 4 G’s of it pushing the standards of safe amusement ride physics. This was not the first ride to use centrifugal laws to pin its standing occupants - other prior examples include the Rotor and Roundup
When the automated door closes the fun really begins. Riders barely realise they’re moving (everything they can see is moving with them). The ride quickly starts to rotate reaching its top speed of 24 rpm in less than 20 seconds. (fast given its wide diameter). At this speed (turned with a 33kW 3-phase motor), the 45 panels that riders stand against rise upwards leaving people stuck to the wall with their feet off the ground. Regular riders will always move into position as the ride gains speed, sometimes turning sideways or upside down.
Similar forces are achieved from NASA astronaut experiments simulating rocket take off and space travel G-Forces.
The recommended ride time is no longer than 80 seconds.
Since the amount of G’s felt by a rider corresponds with body weight, most adult riders will the G’s exerted on the chest and face a little too uncomfortable to be ‘FUN’ (they always breathe a sigh of relief when the brakes come on) but ask any kid or teenager what they think of it and they’ll rave on for hours about how many times they’ve ridden it and how totally fantastic it was. The sight of a person lying on a wall sideways or upside-down is always a memorable one!
The interior of the ride consists of a central, circular control / supervisor booth with a futuristic swivelling chair over the centre axis of the ship. This small section is designed for the operator who rotates with the ride, although safe from any G-force. (being in the very centre) This section is usually surrounded by flashing lights, with a few disco lights on top - creating a really good ride atmosphere. Surrounding the sides of the flying-saucer ship are 45 multi-coloured vertical panels, each the height and width of an average human body. These panels are very slightly angled outward, making them nearly vertical. Each panel is on a set of rollers, and with the laws of centrifugal force, is naturally raised upward when the optimum speed is reached. Since the ride is completely enclosed, some units have surveillance cameras installed, with monitor screens on the outside - thus giving spectators an insight into what’s actually happening on ride.
Gravitron’s huge capacity of 45 people, and the ease at which it can be loaded / unloaded (simply by walking in) gives it a great theoretical capacity of 1000 people / hour.
The whole ride can be racked on one 50ft trailer, making it one of the most well designed amusement ride ever produced as far as portability / rider capacity is concerned.
The ride can be set up in 6 hours, and torn down in 3 with an experienced crew.
There are upwards of 40 units in North America, at least 3 in Europe and approximately 7 Gravitrons in Australia.
Butler Amusements has that ride and it’s calls The Thriller.
Adam - April 25th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Hello there,
I would like price and further information on the Gravitron unit. I am also interested in the pricing of a used unit if possible. Thanks.
rob - May 21st, 2009 at 1:07 pm
hi i am interested in buying a gravitron are you able to help
jason white - May 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 am
was scared to death the first time but love it now
jenn - June 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Hi, I need to contact you for some parts I have 1991 gravitron in puerto rico.
George Rios - June 4th, 2009 at 8:49 am
I was on one of these in Seattle, and this one kid tried to peel himself off the wall at the height of the G-forces. He jacknifed himself at the waist and spent the remainder of the ride doubled-up, since he wasn’t strong enough to straighten up again. He was purplish at the end.
KnoxWarner - June 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Honestly, the BEST ride out there at small-town fairs. Too bad they haven’t had it at the Father Hennipen Festival for like two years now and I am really disappointed.
Chris - June 15th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Oh no no no no no,I would NEVER go on that ride,I would chunk for sure!
ba-boss-bomb - July 2nd, 2009 at 7:47 am