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process is a challenge, because of the long lead time for orders in a very liquid costs scenario. The buyer sits in a more comfortable position than the seller, because the value is immutable, but we can’t say the same about costs. Innovation with new products is the only way we know to have a reliable return on our investments, regardless of their final cost. So, for 2023 we are launching something new: Flying Dutchman. This is an unconventional ride equipped with ‘flying scooters’ – interactive gondolas – positioned on a tower and held by ropes, so riders can control the swing by playing a front wing. It’s an exciting addition to our portfolio of interactive rides: Aerobat, Sidecar, and Flying Fury.
CW: What future trends do you anticipate? How do Technical FM: Last year’s novelty was the 24-seater Sidecar XL, with capacity increased by 50% compared to the classic model. The very first two units were delivered during the 2022 season: one in Sweden at the Liseberg park themed with classic motorcycles, and one in France at the Fraispertuis-City park with a completely dedicated western theme and inspired by steam vehicles with a smoking boiler to power each car. The next one in 2023 was themed ‘Motorbikes Derby’ and delivered to Djurs Sommerland, together with a giant Tea Cup ride, both remastered with a dedicated theme in collaboration with Leisure Expert Group, which made the first sketch of the customised design. Looking ahead, the next big trend we foresee will involve interactivity and
theming, two elements we consider very important for rides to appeal to and enjoy success with with the public. The new Flying Dutchman was born out of this trend prediction. It features the typical lifting system of drop towers, raising the rotating centre up to 25 metres with a structure holding eight interactive gondolas that allow you to perform aerial evolutions ‘at will’, because of the inclusion of a front wing, to obtain an electrifying yaw effect during the ride accompanied by height variations.
Flying Dutchman passengers can surf the wind by swaying in the breeze, playing with the front handlebar, picking up speed as the entire carousel rotates and rising into the air as they please. It is truly interactive, so the passenger can decide how thrilling their experience should be. The gondolas are also equipped with safety grab bars for passengers. The design offers ample space for possible theming, and is configurable according to different theming needs. The great strength of this system is the majesty of the equipment within a small footprint and with very low energy consumption.
CW: Now that the world has reopened after the pandemic, there’s a renewed focus on sustainability. Have you put in place any sustainability policies at Technical Park? FM: Sustainability is so important, but unfortunately it has also been just a cliché for a long time. Honestly, we always believed in it because isn’t it true that it is also achieved by extending the lifespan of products and limiting maintenance needs?
The next big thing on this topic is energy-saving, and in the amusement industry we think regenerative drives are a very smart solution, because we can save energy from frequent run and stop, deceleration with high inertia load, and overhauling torque by using a regenerative power unit. Dynamic braking resistors have been widely used to convert regenerated energy into heat loss because of simplicity and low installation cost, but a regenerative power unit is nowadays affordable and provides a significant energy cost saving opportunity, especially in applications that require frequent run and stop, deceleration with high inertia load, and overhauling torque like in most of the thrill rides – or in a Ferris Wheel which we have offered for many years. For applications that require high duty cycle braking, the regenerative converter can significantly improve the system operating efficiency and reduce the cost of electricity by up to 54%. It is a cost-effective solution that can replace the dynamic braking transistor and resistor network because it simply absorbs excess regenerative energy from the VFD, and returns it to the AC power source. We are also focusing on solar power, generating electricity using sunlight, and you can already see Technical Park Ferris Wheels equipped with solar panels on top of the gondolas – a simple and smart solution to satisfy part of the energy demand for operation.
Flying Dutchman 48
A Technical Park Ferris Wheel MAY 2023
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