Evolution
Premiering at Munich Oktoberfest in 1992, constructed by Nauta Bussink & Bailey of Holland, Evolution remains one of the largest rides ever to be transported. Weighing a massive 300+ tonnes, 33 metres (113ft) high and wheel diameter of 15 metres (45ft), it earned a Guinness World Record for the largest inverting carousel structure ever built.
Evolution (also known as Imperator) consists of a giant arm bearing a rotating wheel holding 16 four-person gondolas on one end, and a set of 10-tonne counterweights at the other. With riders facing outwards, Evolution’s movement involves the freely suspended gondolas move upwards and outwards as the wheel turns. With this happening, the arm slowly turns 180° exposing the riders to strong g-forces before both movements usually stop, suspending the riders in an upright, inward facing position 33 metres off the ground. After a few minutes, rotation of the wheel and arm recommences to complete one 360° circuit before the ride cycle finishes.
| Only 3 units were ever made by Bussink & Bailey | |
|---|---|
| USA, Excalibur at Six Flags St Louis (ex-portable from Europe) | |
| Germany, Imperator, travelling German fairs again after being in storage for some years | |
| Japan, ex-Kure Portopialand (park version) currently in storage after the park closed in 2005 |
With the arm alone weighing 160 tonnes, Evolution travels Europe on 16 trailers (most classed as heavy over-size loads).
More common is Fabbri’s Evolution, manufactured under license by Bussink’s design. At 21 metres (68ft) it’s considerably smaller, portable on two trailers and accommodates 40 riders in 10 cars. Unlike Bussink’s design, the gondolas are not suspended freely with 360° mounts but are controlled by pneumatic cylinders at the operator’s discretion.
There are at least 3 Fabbri units in USA and 6 in Europe, both portable and park design.
| Nauta Bussink Technical Information | |
|---|---|
| Number of cars | 16 |
| Number of passengers per car | 4 adults |
| Ride Speed | 1 RPM Arm 10 RPM Wheel |
| Maximum ride height | 34.5 metres 113 ft) |
| Ride width | 20 m / 66 ft |
| Ride depth | 24 m / 79 ft |
| Ride weight (EMPTY) | 43,000 lbs (300,000kg) |
| Transport | 16 trailers |
| Fabbri Technical Information | |
|---|---|
| Number of cars | 10 |
| Number of passengers per car | 4 adults |
| Ride Speed | 3 RPM Arm 10 RPM Wheel |
| Maximum ride height | 20 metres 70 ft) |
| Ride width | 20 m / 66 ft |
| Ride depth | 24 m / 79 ft |
| Ride weight (EMPTY) | 14,000 lbs (21,000kg) |
| Transport | 3 trailers |
Uuuhuuuuuuuuuuuu, I love this ride very much, after it`s “antecessor cousin” Enterprise. Playcenter in São Paulo and Mirabilandia in Reci fe/Pernambuco have one too. And I dream of having one too, called “Air Supply”!!!! hahaha fui!
Taty TX - December 1st, 2009 at 10:05 am
Helloooooooooo, I WANT IMPERATOR IN BRAZIIIIL!!!(PREFERENCE TO WHERE I LIVE, IM PIQUETE/SP)FIXED FOREVER!!! “I can wait forever If you say you`ll be there too I can wait forever if you will I know it worth at all To spend my life alone With you…”
Evolution/Luty - December 31st, 2009 at 7:44 am
scary!!!!!!!!! because it keeps you up in the air for about 1 minute at the start but once that is over your of and away loving it pooing it hands up amazing irl love to have one in my back garden i dont have to wish because i already have one in my back garden because im rich!!!!
george - May 1st, 2010 at 6:02 am
ceder point have one i always wat to go
cman101 - June 21st, 2010 at 8:59 am
Cman, you are confusing the Evolution with maXair, which is a Huss Giant Frisbee (awesome ride, btw).
I rode the one at Six Flags St. Louis (Excalibur) this year and it was quite an interesting ride. It spun a little faster than I liked but the ride experience was great. Like the fact that you didn’t go upside down though I think I would have liked the arm to do two revolutions.
Michael - July 14th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Evolutions are so rare I dont even know where the closest one is
mb - July 21st, 2010 at 12:30 am