Funtime (manufacturer)

(Redirected from Star Flyer (ride))

Funtime is an amusement ride manufacturer based in Dölsach, Austria and Bundall, Australia.[1][2] The company manufactures rides such as the Sling Shot, Star Flyer, and Vomatron.[3]

Funtime
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1998 (1998)
Headquarters,
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAmusement rides
Websitewww.funtime.com.au

Ride Entertainment handles the distribution and operation of rides in North America.[4]

History

In 1998, Funtime was established in the suburb of Bundall on the Gold Coast, Australia.[1] Shortly after, the company opened a small amusement park in Surfers Paradise, a nearby Gold Coast suburb. At the time, the amusement park was known as Adrenalin Park and featured the company's Sling Shot and Vomatron rides.[5][6][7]

In 2010, Funtime threatened legal action against Dutch amusement ride manufacturer, Mondial, after that company unveiled the WindSeeker which bears similarities to Funtime's patented Star Flyer ride.[1][8] Mondial responded to the threat by stating that "there is no merit to Funtime's claim".[9] The matter did not progress.

In 2015 Funtime and Ride Entertainment Group partnered to open 2 Sing Shot rides at Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario, Canada) and Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA).[10] They would both would continue to open additional rides in North America, as well as beginning to unveil Star Flyers at Six Flag amusement parks under this partnership.[11]

Products

A Star Flyer
  • The Bell – a ride similar to a Frisbee, except they are located inside a giant bell[12]
  • Chaos Pendle – riders are mounted on the ends of several arms and spun around in a propeller-like fashion[13]
  • Rocket – riders are harnessed into a rocket shaped car which is raised into the air and spun around a tower and on its own axis[14]
  • Sky Diver – an amusement ride similar to a Skycoaster where riders are winched to the top of a launch tower and then dropped towards the ground, swinging from a cable tether back and forth until brought to a rest[15]
  • Sling Shot – a reverse bungee ride where passengers are propelled over 100 metres at speeds in the region of 160 kilometres per hour. The machine does not utilise rubber ropes or bungee cords as in a slingshot, but is powered by a patented spring propulsion device incorporating up to 720 specially-designed springs. The SlingShot can be custom designed to cause minimal disruption to existing venues.
  • Star Flyer – a variation of the traditional swing ride where riders are swung around the top of a tower[16]
  • Tornado – a ride that simulates a tornado by sending riders in a figure-eight motion[17]
  • Vomatron – a type of ride similar to the centrifuges used in astronaut training, except on a vertical axis[6]
  • Skyfall – currently the highest transportable drop tower in the world with a height of 85 metres (279 ft)[18]

Ride installations

Ride nameParkLocationModelOpenedStatusDetails
Adirondack OutlawSix Flags Great Escape United StatesVomatron2021Operating
AllgäufliegerSkyline Park GermanyStar Flyer2020OperatingOne of The Tallest Swing Rides in the world. 465–493 feet (142–150 m)
AtmosFearPlayland CanadaStar Flyer2011Operating
Black MambaWiener Prater AustriaChaos Pendle2011Operating
Catwoman WhipSix Flags St. Louis United StatesVomatron2022Operating
CatapultLagoon United StatesSling Shot2002Operating
Die GlockeHansa-Park GermanyThe Bell2006Removed 2019Replaced by Awilda's World
Donjon de l’ExtrêmeNigloland FranceSkyfall2016Operating
Drop LineDollywood United StatesSkyfall2017Operating
EclipseGröna Lund SwedenStar Flyer2013Operating[19]
El GritoDjurs Sommerland DenmarkSkyfall2024Operating60 meters (200 feet) tall.
FlyOverFantasilandia ChileStar Flyer2018Operating
HangOver The TowerEwald Schneider GermanySkyfall2015OperatingTravels on the fair circuit and is 85 meters (279 feet) tall.
HighlanderHansa-Park GermanySkyfall2019Operating395 feet (120 meters) tall.
HimmelskibetTivoli Gardens DenmarkStar Flyer2006Operating
Lighthouse TowerHoliday Park GermanyStar Flyer2006Operating
MerlíTibidabo Amusement Park SpainSkyfall2024Under construction50 meters (160 feet) tall.
Merlin and the Magic CircleFreizeit-Land Geiselwind GermanySling Shot2021Operating
Mega Mindy FlyerPlopsa Coo BelgiumStar Flyer2010Operating
New England SkyScreamerSix Flags New England United StatesStar Flyer2014OperatingEighth Starflyer at a Six Flags park; 403-feet tall.[20]
North StarValleyfair United StatesStar Flyer2017Operating230 feet (70.1 m) tall.[21][22]
Orlando FreeFallICON Park United StatesSkyfall2021Removed 2022The ride was closed after the fall related death of Tyre Sampson, aged 14, in March 2022.[23]
Orlando SlingshotICON Park United StatesSling Shot2021Operating
Orlando StarFlyerICON Park United StatesStar Flyer2018OperatingOpened as the World's Tallest Swing ride at 450 feet tall.
Prater TurmWiener Prater AustriaStar Flyer2010Operating385 feet (117 meters) tall
ROX-Flyer
Formerly SpringFlyer
Plopsaland BelgiumStar Flyer2006Operating
Sky DiverWalibi Holland NetherlandsSky Diver1994Operating
Sky DiverWalibi Belgium BelgiumSky Diver2004Removed 2006
SkyFallMichael Goetzke GermanySkyfall2013OperatingTravels on the fair circuit and is 80 meters (260 feet) tall.
SkyFallSuperland IsraelSkyfall2024Under construction
Six Flags SkyScreamerSix Flags Darien Lake United StatesStar Flyer2019Operating
SkyScreamerSix Flags Discovery Kingdom United StatesStar Flyer2011Operating
SkyScreamerSix Flags Fiesta Texas United StatesStar Flyer2012Operating[24]
SkyScreamerSix Flags Great Adventure United StatesStar Flyer2012Operating[24]
SkyScreamerSix Flags Over Georgia United StatesStar Flyer2013Operating[25]
SkyScreamerSix Flags St. Louis United StatesStar Flyer2011Operating
Sky ShotSkyline Park GermanySling Shot2000Operating90 meters tall
Sling ShotFuntime AustraliaSling ShotUnknownOperating[5]
Sling ShotMagical Midway United StatesSling ShotUnknownRemoved 2024
Sling ShotKentucky Kingdom United StatesSling Shot2002Operating
Sling ShotElitch Gardens United StatesSling Shot2006Operating
Sling ShotSix Flags Magic Mountain United StatesSling Shot2012Removed 2019Last operated in 2019 and never reopened due to high maintenance costs. Removed in September 2022.
Sling ShotSix Flags Great Adventure United StatesSling Shot2011Operating
Sling ShotSix Flags St. Louis United StatesSling Shot20022008
Sling ShotSix Flags Mexico MexicoSling Shot2013Operating60 meters tall.[26]
Sling ShotCarowinds United StatesSling Shot2015Operating
Sling ShotCedar Point United StatesSling Shot2015Operating
Sling ShotKings Island United StatesSling Shot20022022
Sling ShotCanada's Wonderland CanadaSling Shot2015Operating
Sling ShotAl-Shallal Theme Park Saudi ArabiaSling ShotUnknownOperating
Sling ShotOld Town United StatesSling ShotNovember 2001Operating
SnakeGröna Lund SwedenChaos Pendle2019Operating
Spring ShotMorey's Piers United StatesSling ShotUnknownOperating
Star FlyerDivo Ostrov RussiaStar FlyerUnknownOperating
Sling ShotParko Paliatso CyprusSling Shot1999Operating90 meters tall.
Star FlyerElitch Gardens United StatesStar Flyer2017Operating17 stories tall.[27][21]
Star FlyerGreenland Kyushu JapanStar FlyerUnknownOperating
Star FlyerAllou Fun Park GreeceStar Flyer2008Operating
Star FlyerLuna Park Tel Aviv IsraelStar Flyer2016Operating
Star FlyerMagical Midway United StatesStar Flyer2006Removed 2024
Star FlyerManchester Town Centre United KingdomStar FlyerUnknownOperating
Star FlyerNagashima Spa Land JapanStar Flyer2012OperatingHeight of around 63.4 metres (208 ft)
Star FlyerOktoberfest GermanyStar FlyerUnknownUnknown
Star FlyerPacific National Exhibition CanadaStar FlyerUnknownUnknown
Star FlyerParque de Atracciones de Madrid SpainStar Flyer2010Operating80 meters tall
Star FlyerSteel Pier United StatesStar FlyerN/ANever Materialized[28]
Star FlyerTykkimäki FinlandStar Flyer2009Operating
Stars Flyer
Formerly Bollywood Skyflyer
Real Madrid World United Arab EmiratesStar Flyer2021OperatingTallest swing ride in the world at 460 feet in height, was manufactured and intended for the cancelled Six Flags Dubai.[29]
StupetKongeparken NorwaySkyfall2019Operating
Super Girl Sky Flight
Formerly SkyScreamer
Six Flags Mexico MexicoStar Flyer2015Operating[20]
Tekkotsubanchou - Sky Tower SwingerFuji-Q Highland JapanStar FlyerUnknownOperatingFirst Skyflyer in Japan.[30]
Texas GunslingerSix Flags Fiesta Texas United StatesSling Shot2013Operating
Texas SkyScreamerSix Flags Over Texas United StatesStar Flyer2013Operating[19][31]
Texas Star FlyerGalveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier United StatesStar Flyer2012Operating[32]
TornadoTerra Mítica SpainStar Flyer2015Operating
Torre del MarHansa-Park GermanyStar Flyer2005Removed 2015
TornadoWiener Prater AustriaTornado2007Operating
Vol UltimeLa Ronde CanadaStar Flyer2012Operating[33]
VomatronFuntime AustraliaVomatronUnknownOperating[6]
VomatronOld Town United StatesVomatronUnknownOperating
Wonder Woman Lasso of TruthSix Flags America United StatesStar Flyer2017Operating242 feet (73.8 m) ft tall.[21]
UnknownCOTAland United StatesStar Flyer2025Under construction
UnknownCOTAland United StatesSkyfall2025Under construction

Amusement park

Adrenalin Park in 2007

Funtime operates a small amusement park in the centre of Surfers Paradise, aptly named Funtime.[7] The park features installations of their Sling Shot and Vomatron rides.[5][6] The park was previously known as Adrenalin Park and featured several other rides and attractions, including an Intamin Parachute Drop tower, a mini golf course and a bungee tower.[34][35]

See also

References