The Wave Swinger is primarily made by two companies Zierer and Bertazzon. The Wave Swinger is essentially a swing ride (or chair jet) that can make wave motions along with simply spinning. They are known for being ornately decorated among other things.
The Wave Swinger is made up of a center support and a spinning frame. The spinning frame is attatched to the support and can rise up to the top of the support. The support is slanted a bit at the top and is able to rotate in the opposite direction of the frame, making the frame perform the wave motion. All of this is hidden behind the decorative panels in the center.
The Ride
First you grab a swing, which is like a little basket with a steel bar and a chain to hold it down. The basket seat is really easy to slide in for some reason and while riding I’ve found myself become ‘crotched’ on the chain that fastens the bar…not fun. When in the lowered position, the Wave Swinger’s chairs are really low; you may as well be sitting on the ground. When the ride starts, the whole frame rises up about 6 to 8 feet and begins to rotate clockwise. The frame continues to rise until it rides up the small tilted portion of the support which tilts the frame a bit. Riders usually get some good height on these rides, flying over the crowds in their little basket chair.
Other Info
Just about every large carnival and every medium to large theme park has a Wave Swinger; they’re almost a requirement now. Six Flags Great Adventure, Dorney Park, Morey’s Piers, Casino Pier, Busch Gardens Europe, Strates Shows and Amusement’s of America are just some of the past and present Wave Swinger owners that I can think of. If you visit a European funfair, you might even get to ride one that goes backwards!