Free fall towers are a classic among thrill rides. Most of theme parks have at least one. The basic model relies upon a vertical structure on which are hooked seats where passengers take place. A carrier takes the seats up to the top and then release them. The drop allows passengers experience the weightlessness typical of a free fall, then the brakes slow the vehicle down before reaching the ground.
To further improve the overall experience, many variations and improvements have been applied to the basic model by amusement ride engineers over the years. A very popular variant is the “space shot” tower where a pneumatic lift is launched from below upwards before falling down.
Considering the type of seats, there are classical sit-down, stand up and tilting models.
Although the traditional drop tower is set outdoor, that’s not the only possible scenario: there are also some noticeable indoor towers examples, often featuring stunning dark/light visual effects during the ride.
Let’s have a glimpse of the best and most peculiar free fall towers spread across Europe.
