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Attraction Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
preferred places for daredevil pilots to land their
flying machines and Vienna Airlines passengers
experience some of that excitement for themselves.
Although permission could not
be granted to gather footage
during a real flight over the city,
Explore 5D has nevertheless
managed to produce a very
convincing ride film that fuses
digitised images of real Vienna
nna
landmarks together with CGI to
create a breathtaking fantasy journey.
Th
e b
asi
lisk
, a
s f
ea
tur
ed
in
th
e Footage from the Vie
Airlines ride film
Miraculum
Bursting out of the side of the building
they are in, riders feel the wind in their
faces as they skim across the River Danube, travel “whispers” can be heard at the back of the theatre thanks to an
underground through the U-Bahn railway, out across well- impressive surround sound system, which makes the auditorium
known sights and back to the Prater, culminating with a appear full even on the quietest of days.
swift tour around the perimeter of the Ferris Wheel. Integrated with the action on screen and a full suite of
A 15-metre high elliptical screen means riders’ are never special effects, the high fidelity sound helps create what
divorced from the action as the ride vehicle performs a Gerhard Frank describes as a “psychological 5D experience.”
More
series of dramatic movements during the two-and-a-half- To immerse them in the action even further, viewers must stand
Calafatti
minute ride. Despite this, the movements are smooth, and throughout the performance. This of course increases capacity
the picture is sharp. Normally on motion rides you cannot for the operator (108 at a time, plus space for 10 wheelchairs),
Magic
only feel the movements, but hear them too, yet thanks to but also keeps audiences on their toes.
Basilio Calafatti (pictured above
a state-of-the-art electric (rather than hydraulic) drive During the show, Basilio Junior attempts to teach some of his
at the Riesenradplatz in statue
system, that noise has been eliminated. ancestor’s tricks, with mixed results, leading to several
form) also gives his name to a
“Bosch Rexroth has done a tremendous job,” says unexpected yet entertaining mishaps. Along the way there are new gravity ride added to the
Explore 5D’s chief technology officer, David Vatcher. “The knowing references to Harry Potter and Indiana Jones, as Prater this season.
motion base produces very fluid movements and that’s Basilio performs a variety of tasks, culminating in an encounter Calafatti’s Magic Rotor
important because people must not think about the with a basilisk, the mythical part chicken, part frog and part
(pictured below), operated by
machine they are riding, rather they should concentrate on snake reptile that can kill a man with a simple stare. Yet Basilio
Thomas Sittler, is a Chance-
the feeling of flight.” has a secret weapon – his 3D glasses – and as he puts them
manufactured construction
The reactions of those riding when Park World visited on, he gets a glimpse of the curious creature before it swoops
previously operated in the States
during the summer appeared to confirm that this is indeed out over the audience and up into the rafters.
and given a new Oriental
an attraction not to be missed by either by local residents The swirling wind that accompanies the basilisk in flight is
theme.
or those who, dare we say it, simply want something a little one of the most impressive effects inside the Miraculum,
In Calafatti Platz, meanwhile,
more fast-paced than the city sightseeing tours can offer. particularly when used in an earlier sequence that sees the
is another new addition for
Indeed, Kornprobst envisages numerous tourist theatre plunged into darkness, heightening guests’ senses.
2008, a refurbished Huss Top
Spin operated by Stefan Sittler.
applications for future Flyboard installations: “This would A vertical drop is another “wow.” Audiences members are
Meanwhile the Dostal family has
be a great attraction for any iconic location that wants to plunged but a matter of millimetres – but their hearts
opened a new eight-seater
give its guests a bird’s eye view,” he says appear to plunge significantly further. “Like all special
Screamin’ Swing by S&S called
effects the drop sounds much more aggressive than it
Turbo. Starting in October, a
Miraculum really is,” notes Vatcher, “but the very loud sound (steel to
laser show is planned each night
It was in the mid-1800s that impresario and illusionist Basilio steel) is important to immerse guests in the action.” around midnight at the new
Calafatti introduced many of the Prater’s great innovations. Now the challenge for Explore 5D is to get the effects theatre Stargate/Future Zone nightclub,
Now his great-great-great-great-grandson “Basilio C Junior” is and Flyboard into other parks. Several high profile clients have part of the Riesenradplatz
back at the Vienna park as star of the new Miraculum “5D” already been to see the attractions at the Prater, while several of
complex.
special effects theatre from Explore 5D. This, the company’s the park’s operators have apparently approached Explore 5D
first such project, features a custom-produced 3D film in which to work with them on other projects. With the Riesenradplatz,
Basilio Junior, played by a live actor, conducts an 11-minute the company has the perfect showroom.
magic lesson in front of an inquisitive class. The students’ www.riesenradplatz.at
Vienna Airlines in action The mighty Flyboard motion base
SEPTEMBER 2008
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