Enterprise (ride)

Enterprise
"Enterprise" at TusenFryd in 2005 (Norway). Opened: 1988 and closed: 2006
Status	Discontinued
First manufactured	1972
No. of installations	About 64
Manufacturer	HUSS Park Attractions
Vehicle type	Gondola
Vehicles	20
Riders per vehicle	1-4
Restraint Style	Cage

"Zodiac" at Thorpe Park in 2003

The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Park Attractions in 1972. The ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was issued the patent.

The ride is named after USS Enterprise from the TV series Star Trek. The backdrop is decorated with space-themed art and a silhouette of the starship Enterprise.

Enterprises are manufactured by HUSS, Schwarzkopf, and Heinz Fähtz; all sharing the name Enterprise. Both trailer and park versions have been created and in use.

Design and operation

The Kwal at Drievliet (Netherlands).

In the ride, up to two people sit in one of 20 gondolas arranged in a circle, one in front of the other. The ride moves clockwise, dispelling a slight amount of centrifugal force. A hydraulically-powered arm underneath the ride then raises and tilts the frame so that the ride is rotating at 87° from the horizontal, transforming the ride from a horizontal experience to a nearly vertical one.

On most Enterprise models there are no safety restraints; the force applied to the riders is sufficient to keep them pinned in their seats, however, some models have been fitted with seat belts. Most parks and carnivals require riders to be at least 48 inches tall, though it is not uncommon to see restrictions as much as 54 inches or more. The transportable version of the ride racks onto two trailers, the first carrying the wheel, arm, and drive systems while the second is loaded with the gondolas, platforms, and any additional equipment. The first trailer also acts as the base of the ride while in operation.

Variants

Giant Enterprise/SkyLab

In the early 1980s HUSS produced a larger version of the Enterprise called the SkyLab. It features fifteen to twenty four-seater gondolas (up to four riders per seat) and had a diameter of approximately 60 feet or greater. Most SkyLabs have been dismantled, however there are three known models still operating, The Orbiter at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Super Planet at Yokohama Cosmo World in Yokohama City, Japan and Sky Loop at Luna Park in Tel Aviv, Israel.

UFO

HUSS used the basis of the Enterprise for another ride called the UFO. This ride was similar in operation, however the cars did not swing freely and riders stood up facing the center of the ride. Similarly to most Enterprise rides, there are no restraints due to the centrifugal force experienced on the ride. This ride is no longer in production.

Fly Away

HUSS also used the design of the Enterprise for a newer attraction called Fly Away. In this version, riders lay on their stomachs to simulate the feeling of flying.

Schwarzkopf

The Schwarzkopf versions of the Enterprise have either 16 or 21 gondolas, thus having a different diameter of the wheel. The gondolas are also smaller than the HUSS version. Originally, the gondolas were produced in-house; they were later replaced by gondolas manufactured separately by Reverchon.

Heinz Fähtz

Heinz Fähtz manufactured some 16-gondola Enterprises. The only known operating park model is at Darien Lake, installed in 1981. Another portable ride is traveled in New Zealand by Mahons Amusements, loading on 2 trailers complete with backflash.^{[citation needed]}

Appearances

Note: Schwarzkopf versions of the ride are indicated with "(SDC)" following the park or operator name. The Heinz Fähtz Enterprise is marked "(HF)".

The Reef Diver at Dreamworld.

• Argentina – Two Enterprises; Enterprise I at Parque de la Ciudad and Enterprise II at Parque de la Ciudad (SDC).
• Australia – Four Enterprises; The Enterprise at Luna Park Melbourne, Reef Diver at Dreamworld (Meshio), one traveling model. The fourth is under refurbishment, location unknown.
• Canada – At least three Enterprises; one at Playland, The STORM, at Calaway Park, and several portable models. At least one Skylab, The Orbiter at Canada's Wonderland
• Colombia – one enterprise at parque nacional del cafe
• Denmark – Two Enterprises; 'Enterprise' at Bakken (Is now teared down and is to be renovated and sold. And also 'Solhjulet' at Sommerland Syd

• Egypt – One in Dream Park; largest amusement park in Egypt and the Middle East
• Estonia – At least one; a traveling model owned by Tivoli Tuur. Got into fire in 2007; 41 were injured.
• Finland – At least two; Enterprise at Tykkimäki amusement park and Kehrä at Linnanmäki amusement park (SDC) (from 2009).
• Germany – Only one travelling Enterprise; Mondlift owned by Zehle., plus a few stationary Enterprises in different amusement parks – all manufactured by Huss.
• India −5 enterprises;three at Mumbai 2 in Six Flags and 1 at Play Land, 1 at New Delhi at essel world and one at Hydrabad at Musky Mountain
• Israel – One in the Luna Park in Tel Aviv (this is the only mobile built Sky Lab ride that had been travelled in Germany in 1979–1990).
• The Netherlands – Four Enterprises; Enterprice at Attractiepark Slagharen (SDC), G-Force at Walibi Holland, Kwal at Drievliet, Tarantula Magica at Avonturenpark Hellendoorn.
• New Zealand – One Traveling Enterprise, 'Enterprise' Mahons Amusements"(HF)".
• Spain – At least one; La Turbina at Parque de Atracciones, Madrid. (SDC)
• United Kingdom At least 5; Enterprise at Dreamland Margate, Black Widow's Web at Lightwater Valley, Zodiac at Thorpe Park, Enterprise at Alton Towers, and a traveling Enterprise owned by Funfair Props.
• United States of America – At least seventeen; Enterprise at Casino Pier, Dorney Park, Valleyfair, Lake Compounce, Kentucky Kingdom, the Strates Shows traveling railway carnival, and Murphy Bros. Exposition; Highland Fling at Six Flags St. Louis (SDC); Centennial Screamer at Lagoon Amusement Park; Silver Bullet at Darien Lake (HF); Vertigo at Alabama Adventure; Volcano (formerly Enterprise) at Kennywood SBNO; Witches' Wheel at Cedar Point; The Orbit at Six Flags Great America (SDC) and California's Great America (SDC) ; Rodeo Round-Up at Frontier City ; Scream Weaver at Carowinds; Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin' ; and Zulu at Worlds of Fun.

Past appearances

The following Enterprise rides at the following amusement parks are now defunct.

• Apple Turnover at Kings Dominion (1976–1991)
• Skylab at Kings Island (1986–1997)
• Enterprise at Rocky Point Amusement Park (Closed in 1995)
• Enterprise (Huss Portable Model) at Tusenfryd (1988–2006). Moving to Lindströms Tivoli in Sweden (2006), and to a Swedish showman, Håkan Skogh (2006-2009). From 2010 owner Troost-Spel in the Netherlands attraction.
• Enterprise at Wasalandia (1988–1996)
• Skylab at Great Escape (closed in 2001)
• Nightwing at Six Flags New England (closed in 2008)
• Enterprise (Huss Portable Model) at Six Flags Great Adventure (1975–1977)
• Enterprise/Spin Meister (Schwarzkopf Park Model) at Six Flags Great Adventure (1979–2005)
• Cyclops at Hersheypark
• Enterprise/Reactor at Six Flags Magic Mountain
• Loop Trainer Flying Machine (Schwarzkopf Park Model) at Knott's Berry Farm (1976–1989)
• Wagon Wheel (Schwarzkopf Park Model) at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (1996–2011) (originally at Six Flags Over Texas from 1977-1995 as Spinnaker)
• Wheelie (Schwarzkopf Park Model) at Six Flags Over Georgia (1977–2012), removed and closed to make way for SkyScreamer. Moving to Fun Action Park in Orlando, Florida for 2013.
• Enterprise at Loudon Castle, Scotland (?–2010), closed when the park went defunct

Incidents

• October 17, 1983 – An eighteen-year-old boy was killed and several bystanders were injured at the Texas State Fair when a gondola fell off the ride.
• September 22, 2001 – Two teenagers sustained minor injuries when one support on a gondola broke on Zodiac at Thorpe Park, UK. The gondola repeatedly hit the decking at the bottom of the ride whilst the operator attempted to stop the ride. The incident was taken to court, where the judge criticised the length of time it took to shut down the ride after an abnormal noise had been noticed. The park was fined £65,000 and made to pay an extra £35,000 in costs.
• May 18, 2007 – An Estonian Enterprise owned by Tivoli Tuur and operating at a carnival in Rakvere caught fire. It was in motion, with riders aboard, when the fire suddenly ignited at approximately 11:00 p.m. It was stopped and evacuated, but not before injuries were sustained by the riders. 31 patients were hospitalized with first and second degree burns, with an additional 10 admitted and checked for possible smoke inhalation. Six burn victims required further treatment, with all six released from the hospital by May 23. The fire damaged the ride's electrical systems and five of the twenty gondolas. Preliminary investigations found no evidence to conclusively conclude what had caused the incident, but the owner suggested it might have been arson.