The Kamikaze (AKA: Ranger) first made its debut in 1984, by Italian manufacturers Far Fabbri and Sartori, based off ride movements previously found on the Eyerly Loop-O-plane. Since this time over 150 units have sold worldwide and similar copies have been made by almost every ride manufacturer in the industry.
Its relative compactness (1 x 40ft trailer), high capacity (36 adults), dominant look (17.6m length / 18.4m height) and easy set up (4 hours with two workers) makes it a very appealing purchase for any travelling carnival owner.
The original Fabbri Kamikaze does not rely on heavy counterweights, but instead a highly geared drive system making for a very fast upside-down, pendulum motion, swinging at speeds of 13 RPM, relying on momentum to keep it swinging. In more recent models, Fabbri have increased the length of the upper arm counterweights thereby creating a slower ride with less drive requirements.
The ride movement gives feelings of seat-pining centrifugal force and head-rushing, blood-filling, upside-down moments varying in length, depending on the mood of the operator.
There are currently 3 Kamikazes, and 2 Rangers travelling Australia.
OMG just looking at this ride makes my stomach queasy. The poor people standing at the bottom of the ride that day, that’ll teach em lol
Melissa Kelzke - May 16th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
This ride is so popular, it even appears at large school fates these days! Definitely a personal favourite that attracts me to carnivals and shows.
Ben - May 26th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
It looks amazing, pity I’ve never been to any theme parks or shows which have it, it was removed from M&Ds which is a shame
Hannah - July 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 am
Very nice ride suprisingly. I expected it to be dissorientating, but its a great feeling, and you get nice views and lots of airtime at the top lol I havnt seen one in a theme park, but ive been on a travelling one, and i recommend them to anyone!
Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:19 am
sexy ride
anthony - August 10th, 2009 at 6:18 am
that ride is scary trust me and its awsome
anthony - August 10th, 2009 at 6:19 am
im gonna ride the Kamikaze tomorrow with my friend it looks so scary but a lot of people say its fun.
Isak - August 10th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
this is called moonraker in my county fair
Melissa - August 20th, 2009 at 4:15 am
This ride is crazy you must ride at La Country Fair you will love it
Drew Katonak - August 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 am
Called the Skymaster at my county fair: not recommended for girls who don’t have their hair tied up, it gets tangled in the bars…
Erin - September 5th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I wait
Aaron J. Smith - September 13th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Skyrider, Skymaster, Screamer, Kamikaze, High Flyer, Demon Loop. Phew! I’ve been to almost all of them, perhaps in total over 200 times in a carnival season.
Only the KMG pendulums have the better thrill, and more rides, too.
Aaron J. Wilburn, Jr. - September 22nd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
A very good attraction ! The ride is not SO scary as it seems from the ground :)))
Victor - September 27th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Last time this was at my fair was back in 1994. But Gwinnett County Fair had this back in 1996. I haven’t seen this ride since 1996 to be honest. But my fair had the Sky Master that was back in 2001.
Prince06 - September 30th, 2009 at 3:20 am
I love this ride, but there is a version in my town called HangOver where there is no cage around you. Very Fun!
Chase - October 22nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
This does a full 360
Aaron J Smith - October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 am
hey anybody seen the single arm top gun skymaster version i was wandering if anybody has any good pics of it for me as i remember the ride well when it was in the uk.cheers
simon - October 31st, 2009 at 1:42 am
omg that freakin ride is awsome but it makes me dizzy but its ok
VICTOR - November 4th, 2009 at 2:55 am
I love this ride! My nine year old cousin also loves this ride!
Lauren - November 17th, 2009 at 10:04 am
^^^ Simon I have a few photos of the Top Gun. If you’d like me to email some I can do so
Adam - November 21st, 2009 at 7:00 am
Only thing with demon loop or sky master-rider is they are A.R.M. UK pieces they have fold-down floors!
Chris - January 20th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Hi, My county fair has this ride called the Samurai I have never been on it BUT IT LOOKS SOO FUN!
Jen - February 5th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Hi again, Also Odenton Maryland has this firehouse carnival every Memorial Day and my Nana And Pap always take me to it and it has the ride but not in a gondola its called The Rainbow.
Jen - February 5th, 2010 at 10:47 am
My 12 year old daughter & her 10 year old friend went on this ride & even though i felt ill just watching this ride, they stayed on & didn’t even loose thier lunch.
Jayne - February 15th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
it doesnt make u sich u pussyz its an awsome ride
jemma and tiana and jess - March 24th, 2010 at 8:50 am
hey guys,, i am doing an assignment on this and am wondering what the forces are in this ride.. your help would be muchly appreciated cheers
steph - March 29th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
i love this ride a am going on it at the wisconsin state fair
nathaniel - April 22nd, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Went on one of these so scary!!!
Jake Kosseris - April 27th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
There was a permanent Kamikaze at Bell’s Amusement Park here in Oklahoma, U.S. - however, the park was recently forced to move from its location of roughly 60 years, and has not yet found a new one. The Kamikaze (along with a Bill Tracy whacky shack, a great wooden coaster and many other original rides) all are currently sitting in storage :(
Johnny B - April 29th, 2010 at 3:46 am
This comes to my town every year, but today was the first time iv’e ever rode it. It was scary!
Ty G. - May 22nd, 2010 at 1:46 pm
hey nathaniel my name is nathaniel and i was going to ride it at the wisconsin state fair too.
nathaniel - July 1st, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I cant wait to ride meteor which is a kamikaze 2 at dorney park.
mb - July 21st, 2010 at 12:36 am
Hello everyone I’m from Tijuana Mexico and I am a painter of mechanical games and well beautiful designs like kamikaze. No game gets old. bye [english translation of below]
hola a todos soy de mexico del estado de tijuana b.c. trabajo en Atracciones Tijuana, y soy pintor de juegos mecanicos un sludo y estan bien bonitos los diseños del kamikaze, el juego ke no pasa de moda. bay
eivar garcia - July 24th, 2010 at 7:14 am
Hi this is kenny. I rode the kamikaze at the clark county fair this year in springfield ohio. Its ben there for 3 years and I rode it back in two thousand eight, two thousand nine, and this year. I wonder what makes the ride seem so scary?
Kenny - August 3rd, 2010 at 1:36 am
dis ryd b da shiz for reeeal. it gets pop’n off yo. yeeee
Esa - August 5th, 2010 at 9:31 am
WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!
Dale - August 5th, 2010 at 9:34 am
I did not like this ride. I didn’t like the different forces on the body and on top of that you’re hung at the end with blood filling your head! traumatic..
Raymond - August 7th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
@ Raymond: Hence it’s name, Kamikaze. It means suicide mission.
Mb - August 27th, 2010 at 1:21 am
One of my absolutely FAVORITE rides.
It has come to my Satat Fair for as long as I can remember, and I remember on a few occasions when I kept riding this over and over again, the ride operator told me to travel around the Midway grounds, ride other rides, and come back to this later………………..but I love the Kamikaze ride.
When it is (shudder!!!) being taken down, and disassembled, and put on its trailor, I just want to shed the tears…………..and I did not like the one photo shown above with the ride on its trailor, all alone, with the seat showing…………it is a sad photo.
I love this ride, and it brings me joy…………it is awesome, and I hope it comes back next year.
Anonomyous - August 29th, 2010 at 2:47 pm