Comments on: White Trash Carny Ride #5: Paratrooper

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 15:45:29 +0000

You forgot to mention venture rides a their own version of the ride call the cobra looks like a paratrooper with the same skillet seats except both wheels spin at 5he same time.

By: John

John — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 02:44:31 +0000

I generally can’t ride spin rides due to my weak stomach, but I have ridden a rim-drive Paratrooper a couple times. Pretty fun ride.

By: Gaige

Gaige — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:54:54 +0000

The Cliffhangeris definitely the best out of these models.

By: Raymond

Raymond — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:00:13 +0000

The tops of the cars always reminded me of M&M’s LOL

By: Jag

Jag — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 03:00:31 +0000

I rode a rim driven model in the 80s. My sister and I were terrified and screaming with our eyes closed for most of the ride. She was on the outside, and her leg brushed against a tree branch on the way down every rotation. This was one of the scariest rides I’ve ever ridden, but I was 9 years old. It was at my local fair every year growing up, and I never rode it again. Maybe I’ll try it again as an adult.

By: garry

garry — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:50:06 +0000

it was the same ride as Hollywood Star..Troika was like a combo Enterprise /Spider deal, right? this was a ride very similar in start up and performance as a lifting Paratrooper, the difference was the entire ride elevated, then dropped like a Trabant would angle, and the cars turned slowly in all 4 directions….it was a great ride!………

By: DoD3Brian

DoD3Brian — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:53:05 +0000

In reply to garry.

That Hollywood Star ride looks like a trip!

Was Dancing Queen the same as the Hollywood Star ride or was it this ride ( http://bit.ly/otKlXf ) of the same name? Because I know those Huss Troika rides like the one in the link were pretty popular in the 80s or so here in the US.

By: garry

garry — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:55:15 +0000

Hollywood Star Finnendahl Onride (FÄHTZ) ….check this out on youtube….here is a pratrooper type ride where the seats actually turn and face all 4 directions once the ride lifts….I rode this once in Seaside Heights Casino Pier in the mid 80’s….it was called the Dancing Queen…..it was only there for about 2 years, and was out of service the 2nd time I went.
I’ve never seen it again….apparently it it popular on the German fair circuit…

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:39:08 +0000

I went on of these a long time ago (sounds like I got the rim driven kind – it’s the only kind I’ve ever seen) and it was a horrible experience. Every time our car was at the bottom of the cycle it would rock back and forth really hard, like as if someone had jammed on the breaks and let go. I remember the entire ride being like that. It was so uncomfortable and scary, I was just praying for it to be over. The irony is that if memory serves me correctly, we had waited in line for AGES to get on it, and there was even a delay to hose off one of the seats if you know what I mean. And then it was an awful ride. So… yeah.

By: DoD3Brian

DoD3Brian — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:10:28 +0000

In reply to BACH. Some are definately worse than others. I think the rim-driven versions where the wheel is permanently on an angle are the worst because the cars rock like crazy while getting up to speed.