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The reverse bungee (also known as catapult bungee, slingshot, or ejection seat) is a modern type of fairground ride.

A reverse bungee launch with the passenger car nearing the top of the launch.
Passenger car immediately after launch.
Video of SlingShot at Cedar Point

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).[citation needed]

Installations

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Name Park Country Manufacturer Opened Closed Details
SlingShot Canada's Wonderland   Canada Funtime 2015 Open Reaches heights of nearly 300 feet (91.4 m).[1][2]
Slingshot Carowinds   United States Funtime 2015 Open Reaches heights of up to 300 feet (91.4 m).[2][3]
SlingShot Cedar Point   United States Funtime 2014 Open Reaches heights of 360 feet (109.7 m). Located in Gemini Midway section of park.[4]
Slingshot Daytona Beach   United States Funtime 2017 Located on top of Boardwalk arcade. Removed after larger Sling Shot was added nearby.[5]
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.[6]
Slingshot Jolly Roger Amusement Park   United States Funtime Open Monolithic structure towers.[7]
Slingshot Kings Island   United States Funtime 2002 2022 Reaches heights of 275 feet (83.8 m).[8]
Catapult Lagoon   United States Funtime 2002 Open Reaches heights over 200 feet (61.0 m)[9][10]
Orlando Slingshot ICON Park   United States Funtime Open Allegedly reaches heights over 390 feet (118.9 m).[11] The ride was closed for about six months for testing and additional employee training after the 2022 fall-related death of a teenager on the Orlando FreeFall ride operated at the same park.[12]
Slingshot Old Town   United States Funtime 2001 Open [13]
Slingshot Six Flags Darien Lake   United States Funtime Open Reaches heights of 300 feet (91.4 m).[14]
Texas Gunslinger Six Flags Fiesta Texas   United States Funtime Open Monolithic structure towers. Also referred to as Slingshot.[15]
Slingshot Six Flags Great Adventure   United States Funtime Open Reaches heights of 220 feet (67.1 m).[16]
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).[17]

Safety issues

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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.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "SlingShot | Canada's Wonderland". www.canadaswonderland.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  2. ^ a b "Ride Entertainment Launches Slingshot Rides at Cedar Fair Parks Blooloop". Blooloop. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  3. ^ "SlingShot Amusement Ride | Carowinds". www.carowinds.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  4. ^ "SlingShot | Cedar Point". www.cedarpoint.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  5. ^ Staff Report. "Daytona Boardwalk's iconic Slingshot ride comes down". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  6. ^ "Screamer's Park Daytona Beach". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  7. ^ "Slingshot". Jolly Roger Pier Amusements Ocean City MD. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  8. ^ "The Slingshot Ride | Catapult Rides | Kings Island". www.visitkingsisland.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  9. ^ Arave, Lynn (2002-04-12). "Lagoon ready to unveil new ride: Catapult". Deseret News. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  10. ^ "Catapult | Lagoon". www.lagoonpark.com. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  11. ^ "Sling Shot". www.magicalmidway.com. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  12. ^ "Slingshot ride suspended at ICON Park amid FreeFall investigation". www.mynews13.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  13. ^ "Old Town Slingshot & Vomatron". Experience Kissimmee. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  14. ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Darien Lake. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  15. ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  16. ^ "Slingshot". Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  17. ^ "NIGHTWING™". Six Flags New England. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
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