maXair (ride)

maXair is a Huss Park Attractions Giant Frisbee ride at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. It is one of two HUSS Giant Frisbees in the United States, the other being Delirium at Kings Island. It is located near the front of the park near Troika, GateKeeper, and Kiddy Kingdom.

maXair
maXair with Raptor in the background.
Cedar Point
Coordinates41°28′50.92″N 82°40′48.53″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 7, 2005 (2005-05-07)
General statistics
ManufacturerHUSS Park Attractions
ModelGiant Frisbee
Height140 ft (43 m)
Speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Capacity1,000 riders per hour
Vehicle typeCircular Gondola
Riders per vehicle50
Duration2:30
Height restriction52 in (132 cm)
RestraintsOver the shoulder
Fast Lane available


maXair at Cedar Point. Disaster Transport and Space Spiral, two rides removed in 2012 for the construction of GateKeeper, can be seen in the background.

Ride experience

At the start of the cycle, a movable floor drops to allow clearance for the ride to move. After that, the ride begins to swing back and forth as the circular gondola rotates, gaining more height and speed with each swing. At the peak, riders reach a height of 140 feet (43 m) above the ground although the structure of the ride is only 84 feet (26 m) tall. The pendulum motion propels riders back and forth at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) up to an arc of 120 degrees, making it the fastest non-coaster ride at Cedar Point.[1] At the end of the cycle, the pendulum gradually slows to a stop and the gondola stops rotating. Once the pendulum and gondola are parked at the loading position, the floor rises and the restraints release.

Before the 2019 season, maXair operated a somewhat longer cycle and the gondola rotated counterclockwise. As of 2019, the gondola now rotates clockwise.

maXair is one of several rides at Cedar Point that require glasses to be secured with an athletic strap. Loose articles may be brought into the queue, but must be secured in small cubbies located around the gondola on the loading platform.

Riders are secured with a ratcheting shoulder harness and a backup seatbelt between the legs. In addition to the seatbelt, the restraints contain sensors which will not allow the ride to be started unless all 50 harnesses have been closed past a certain limit, which is indicated by a green light near each seat.

See also

  • Delirium at Kings Island, the only other HUSS Giant Frisbee in the United States.
  • Titan at La Ronde, a similar ride produced by Zamperla.

References

  1. "maXair". CedarPoint.com. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
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