Reverse bungee
The reverse bungee (also known as catapult bungee, slingshot, or ejection seat) is a modern type of fairground ride.
The ride consists of two telescopic gantry towers mounted on a platform, feeding two elastic ropes down to a two-person passenger car constructed from an open sphere of tubular steel. The passenger car is secured to the platform with an electro-magnetic latch as the elastic ropes are stretched. When the electromagnet is turned off, the passenger car is catapulted vertically with a g-force of 3–5, reaching an altitude of between 50 metres (164 ft) and 80 metres (262 ft).
Installations
| Name | Park | Country | Manufacturer | Opened | Closed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SlingShot | Canada's Wonderland | Canada | Funtime | 2015 | Open | Reaches heights of nearly 300 feet (91.4 m). |
| Slingshot | Carowinds | United States | Funtime | 2015 | Open | Reaches heights of up to 300 feet (91.4 m). |
| SlingShot | Cedar Point | United States | Funtime | 2014 | Open | Reaches heights of 360 feet (109.7 m). Located in Gemini Midway section of park. |
| Slingshot | Daytona Beach | United States | Funtime | 2017 | Located on top of Boardwalk arcade. Removed after larger Sling Shot was added nearby. | |
| Slingshot | Daytona Beach Screamer's Park | United States | Funtime | 2017 | Open | Replaced smaller Sling Shot located on nearby rooftop. Uploads all on-ride videos to the park's YouTube channel. |
| Slingshot | Jolly Roger Amusement Park | United States | Funtime | Open | Monolithic structure towers. | |
| Slingshot | Kings Island | United States | Funtime | 2002 | 2022 | Reaches heights of 275 feet (83.8 m). |
| Catapult | Lagoon | United States | Funtime | 2002 | Open | Reaches heights over 200 feet (61.0 m) |
| Orlando Slingshot | ICON Park | United States | Funtime | Closed pending investigation | Allegedly reaches heights over 390 feet (118.9 m). The ride was closed pending investigation into operation practices after the fall-related death of Tyre Sampson on the Orlando FreeFall. | |
| Slingshot | Old Town | United States | Funtime | 2001 | Open | |
| Slingshot | Six Flags Darien Lake | United States | Funtime | Open | Reaches heights of 300 feet (91.4 m). | |
| Texas Gunslinger | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | Funtime | Open | Monolithic structure towers. Also referred to as Slingshot. | |
| Slingshot | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | Funtime | Open | Reaches heights of 220 feet (67.1 m). | |
| Nightwing | Six Flags New England | United States | Funtime | Open | ||
| Sling Shot | Magical Midway | United States | Funtime | Open | Reaches heights of 240 feet (73.2 m). |
Safety issues
In August 1998, Jérôme Charron died in a reverse bungee ride accident at the Ottawa Exhibition in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada when he was hurled 40 m into the air before plummeting to his death as his harness had detached. In February 2000, the firm responsible for the ride, Anderson Ventures, was fined $145,000 for this incident.