Skyswing

Amusement with an alpine panorama. At "Summer-Funpark Fiss" in Austria, the newest attraction started operation in July 2007: Skyswing is the name of the strange-looking ride from the Austrian company Rodlsberger, also known for their Skyglider in German amusement park Fort Fun and Summer-Funpark Fiss. At the "Möseralm", 1825 meters above sea level, the Skyswing already is the third larger attraction of the Funpark beside the Skyglider and a summer alpine coaster from Brandauer.

It's not very surprising that tourism in the Alps gets more and more weight on the summer months because of the mild and way too short winters. Toboggan Runs of all variations are sprouting out of the ground like mushrooms and manufacturers of funiculars and lift systems expand their product range with amusement rides. Demand is heavily increasing and not limited to Austria alone.

When you are standing in front of the Skyswing you won't be able to easily figure out what comes up to you. Six individual free swinging seats are suspended on a beam which itself is hanging at a device that resembles a giant letter scale. The boarding is a bit unusual because of the free swinging seats. After all passengers have closed the slightly tight over-the-shoulder restraints, the upper part of the beam unfolds itself pneumatically, therefore elevating the gondola with the seats from the ground. Afterwards the arm rotates backwards up to 120 degrees while the seats remain in an almost horizontal position. Now is also the time when you can extensively enjoy the panorama of the Alps. Then the arm is released and the gondola swings through its' own weight downwards along the radius of the beam. The suspended seats heavily swing on the highest points of the ride and causing the passengers in their seats to tilt over 90 degrees up or down. Through that, the riding experience greatly differs from that of a swinging ship or similar rides. The gondola now simply swings back and forth and getting slower, until after some time it is being braked at the lowest point of the ride. Afterwards the beam lowers itself and the passengers have solid ground under their feet again.

The Skyswing is an unusual variation of a swing. The location on a mountain enables a sensational view down to the valley. The ride itself can better be described as some fun in between: The first true swing is intense and comes unexpected, however intensity considerably decreases after a short time. As a supplementation of the Funpark the Skyswing is successful and should be used when buying a three-rides ticket for the three attractions of the park (Skyglider, Skyswing and toboggan run). Seen as a single attraction however there is still some potential for improvements left.