Observation wheel
An observation wheel is a large slowly rotating and vertically oriented
nonbuilding structure carrying enclosed passenger cars or pods along its circumference. Although observation wheels are often described as
Ferris wheels, the two differ in a number of significant respects:
* Ferris wheels often have open cars or, in small wheels, individual bucket seats. An observation wheel has completely enclosed cars.
* A Ferris wheel's passenger cars hang
within the wheel's frame and are usually kept level by gravity. An observation wheel's cars are mounted on the
outside of the frame and are stabilised mechanically.
Encyclopedia
An
observation wheel is a large slowly rotating and vertically oriented
nonbuilding structure carrying enclosed passenger cars or pods along its circumference. Although observation wheels are often described as
Ferris wheels, the two differ in a number of significant respects:
- Ferris wheels often have open cars or, in small wheels, individual bucket seats. An observation wheel has completely enclosed cars.
- A Ferris wheel's passenger cars hang within the wheel's frame and are usually kept level by gravity. An observation wheel's cars are mounted on the outside of the frame and are stabilised mechanically.
- A Ferris wheel is supported by two towers on each side of the axle. An observation wheel is supported by a single A-frame mounted on one side.
The world's most famous observation wheel is the
London Eye in
London,
England, operated by
British Airways. Its great popularity has led to a number of other cities, including
Birmingham and
York ,
Moscow,
Las Vegas,
Shanghai,
Melbourne and
Singapore proposing to erect similar wheels. The proposed Birmingham wheel would perhaps be the most unusual, as it would be fixed in place while the pods would move around the circumference along a rail track. Las Vegas and Singapore are competing to build the highest in the world, however their projects have been canceled or delayed. The Shanghai Star, initially planned as a 200 m tall wheel to be built by 2005, was revised to 170 m with a completion date set in 2007. The plans to build a 600 ft wheel at the
Rio in Las Vegas were canceled in May 2004. Currently, developers are working on a deal to redesign the
New Frontier including a 485 ft observation wheel, but construction is not expected to start until 2007. The proposed 120 m tall Southern Star Observation Wheel is expected to open in Melbourne in 2008.
See also
