Top Scan is an amusement ride made by Mondial.[1]

Sol Spin at Knott's Berry Farm holds 36 passengers whilst hurtling round 60 ft high

Design and operation

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The ride has six free-rotating gondolas each with five seats and the standard Mondial Triple-Lock Harnesses, including the belt. As the ride begins, the main support rises upwards slightly so it is not at ground level and cannot cause any risks during the ride, then the ride spins backwards and occasionally forwards then the main arm starts spinning with the gondolas freely tilting upside-down. Top Scan is available as a portable or park model.[2]

Incidents

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In the summer of 2005, a woman was killed after being thrown from the ride at Adventureland (New York) when her harness gave way.[3] In 2010, two women were stranded on the Space Roller at Miami-Dade County Fair and had to be rescued by a cherry picker when the machine stopped in the middle of a ride.[4]

Installations

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There are several Mondial Top Scan locations throughout the world, including

 
Samurai at Thorpe Park, at the highest point in its cycle
Name Park Location Opened Status
Let's Twist Everland   South Korea 2008 Operating
Samurai Lagoon   United States 2000 Operating
The Beast (Beware) Fantasy Island   United Kingdom 2001 Removed
Shockwave Canada's Wonderland   Canada 2001 Operating
Samurai Thorpe Park
Chessington World of Adventures
  United Kingdom 2003
1999 to 2003
Operating
Top Scan Adventureland   United States 2003 Removed
Extreme Gröna Lund   Sweden 2007 Removed
Whirlwind Happy Valley Shanghai   China 2009 Operating
Whirlwind Lightwater Valley   United Kingdom 2010 Removed
Magic Wind Mill Happy Valley Wuhan   China 2012 Operating
Electro Spin Carowinds   United States 2017 Operating
Sol Spin Knott's Berry Farm   United States 2017 Operating
Wild Twister Ocean Park Hong Kong   Hong Kong 2019 Operating
Xtreme Barry Island Pleasure Park   United Kingdom 2020 Operating
Top Scan Coney Beach Pleasure Park   United Kingdom 2021 Removed

References

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  1. ^ "Roller Coaster Riders Freed After Dangling". CBS News. Associated Press. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Top Scan | Mondial - World of Rides". mondialrides.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27.
  3. ^ Foderaro, Lisa W.; Fisher, Janon (3 September 2005). "Investigators Are Still Puzzled by Ride That Killed Woman". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Roller Coaster Riders Freed After Dangling". CBS News. Associated Press. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2011.