The Gravitron was first manufactured by Wisdom in 1983 - and is now their number 1 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, making an appearance at most major shows and carnivals throughout Australia, Canada and America. However Wisdom have renamed their recent models “Starship 3000″
The ride movement is 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 Rotor and Roundup
When the siren screams and the automated door closes the fun really begins. The riders barely realise they’re moving since everything they can focus their eyes on is moving with them, as the ship quickly begins to rotate reaching its top speed of 24 rpm in less than 20 seconds. (this is fast considering its wide diameter). When this speed is reached (with a 33 kW 3 phase motor), the 45 panels on which the riders lean against rise upwards leaving riders pined against the walls with their feet half a metre higher than when they innocently walked aboard. Regular riders will always move into position as the ride gains speed - turning themselves sideways or upside down.
The whole concept of the Gravitron came from NASA astronaut experiments involving G-force simulation with rocket take off and space travel - and they were PAYED to ride such devices. I guess times have really changed!
The recommended ride time is no longer than 80 seconds.
Since the amount of G’s felt by a rider corresponds with their body weight, the ride is not really enjoyed by the majority of heavier, adult riders who find 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. However, ask any kid between the ages of 5 to 17 yrs 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. Nothing looks crazier than the sight of a person lying on a wall sideways or… upside down!
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.
The ride’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.
Amazingly, the whole ride can be racked on one 50ft trailer. This makes it the most well designed, well-racked 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 hours.
There are upwards of 40 units in North America and roughly 7 Gravitrons in Australia - 6 portables and one at Dreamworld.
