Rainbow is an amusement park ride created by HUSS Maschinenfabrik of Bremen, Germany (now HUSS Park Attractions of Budapest, Hungary). The Rainbow was manufactured from 1982 to 2000 and is often confused with its cousins Ali Baba and 1001 Nachts, among other similar models. 42 units were produced, which were seen towering atop midways all over the world. The more popular "traveling model" was created, plus several permanently installed "park models." Some units were converted to the opposite model later in their existence. It is believed that two units were converted from its older brother, the Ranger, which uses the same chassis and main support structure, except the Ranger flips riders upside-down, whereas the gentler Rainbow's gondola stays horizontal, leaving riders upright during the entire rotation. A major accident in Liseberg, Sweden, during the 2008 season forced the shutdown and inspection of all HUSS Rainbows in service. The cause of the accident was improper maintenance and inspection of the driveshafts that hold the gondola right-side up. It was observed that regular inspections could not properly occur due to the design of the ride itself. HUSS ordered the replacement of the driveshafts on all remaining rainbows at a cost of about US$40,000 per unit, and ordered that access panels be cut into the bottom of the ride gondola so proper maintenance could be carried out on the driveshafts. Some owners chose to sell or scrap their rides, while others were upgraded and are still in service today.
Design The HUSS Rainbow was developed in the early 1980s using the chassis and main support structure from the Ranger, also built by HUSS, then adding a pivot to the end of the arm. This ensures the 33-foot gondola always stays upright anywhere in its orbit. It holds 36 passengers in three rows, with 2 riders per seat, for an overall capacity of about 720 riders per hour. An electronically controlled hairpin-shaped handlebar lowers in front of each rider to keep them seated; however, most of the time, riders floated somewhere between the seat and the lap bar. All HUSS Rainbows were upgraded with seat belts for added safety in about 2000, reducing the ride experience. The gondola features two statues (typically Hawaiian girls) atop the front railing of the ride gondola. Underneath the gondola is an illuminated cloud that can be seen from the ground. The most popular design features cloud shapes on the side of the gondola with eyes and a smiley face painted on them. The upper end of the main arm displays a stationary cloud sign with chasing lights that spell "Rainbow" in cursive writing; this hides the two counterweights at that end of the main arm. The traditional version has a blue and gold double V-stripe on the main support and orange flowers on the main arm, but some models had varying colours and themes throughout their lifespan. The gondola colours changed from ride to ride, and some custom units were created with different themes and configurations. Many units were later refurbished with modern looks and lighting, but a few classic-themed Rainbows still exist. The Rainbow comes packaged on three (sometimes possibly four) oversized trailers or installed as park models. It takes a crew of four, about six hours to set up and four hours to tear down. A crane is used to erect the main shaft. The travelling model has a hydraulic ram that locks the main support in place and helps to raise and lower the support for regular travelling, but the park model does not need this to be attached and is removed after installation. When installed, the ride weighed 65 tons and had a footprint of 20 metres (66 ft) x 17 metres (56 ft). When standing still, it was 20 metres (66 ft) tall, but had a flight height of 26.5 metres (87 ft) and was driven by four, 150 kW hydraulic motors.
Operation The ride normally runs manually with a joystick, although some models are programmed to run from a push-button panel. The main arm and attached ride gondola can swing in clockwise or counterclockwise directions and stop or reverse at any point in its full orbit. It was customary mid-ride to stop at its upmost position, wait a while, and then reverse directions; however, many owners later decided to stop doing this. The Rainbow's 36 hairpin-shaped handlebars raise and lower electronically from the main control booth. Most models have a foot pedal to ensure the operator is present, and some models are equipped with cameras to deter guests from sliding under the handlebars and standing up while the ride is in motion.
Accidents
● On July 15, 2008, 30 people were injured when a Park Model Rainbow collapsed at Liseberg theme park in Sweden. The ride was dismantled for inspection on July 17, 2008, and investigators confirmed on July 19, 2008, that they had discovered a driveshaft designed to hold the gondola horizontal had failed, causing the gondola to jam at an angle as the arm continued to rotate. HUSS ordered the temporary closure of all Rainbows during their investigation period. Afterwards, HUSS ordered the replacement of the driveshafts on all remaining Rainbows in service and upgraded maintenance procedures for the gondola and driveshafts. This was the only time this type of incident happened with a HUSS Rainbow. ● On June 9, 2006, a 2-year-old boy broke his arms and legs after falling at least 25 feet (7.6 m) from the "Over the Rainbow" ride at Dixie Landin’ in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was seated next to his 3½-year-old sister but about 8 feet (2.4 m) from his mother at the time; his mother says she was told that the other adjacent seat was out of order. ● On May 26, 2002, a 28-year-old man fell to his death from the Rainbow at Elitch Gardens when he was standing up on the ride after unlocking his safety restraint. According to the park, the man was part of a group of mentally challenged individuals on an outing to the park.
Appearances
References
External links Media related to Rainbow (ride) at Wikimedia Commons
