View source for Sky Swatter

{{Short description|Defunct flat ride}}
{{Infobox attraction model
| name                = Sky Swatter
| logo                = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| logo_width          = <!--Default is 250px-->
| image               = Slammer at Thorpe Park (J.Thompson) 01.jpg
| imagedimensions     = 240px
| caption             = ''Slammer'' at Thorpe Park
| status              = Discontinued
| first_produced      = 2003
| No. of installations= 2
| manufacturer        = S&S Power
| designer            = <!--Should be linked.-->
| model               = 
| theme               = <!--Should be linked.-->
| height_ft           = 105
| drop_ft             = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_m              = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft           = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_m            = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph           = 30
| speed_km/h          = <!--Must be expressed in kilometres per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| gforce              = 4
| capacity            = 500
<!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience-->
| vehicles            = 2
| riders_per_vehicle  = 24
| rows                = 8
| riders_per_row      = 6
| participants_per_group= <!--Only use if neither rows or vehicles is applicable.-->
| audience_capacity   = <!--For shows-->
| duration            = 2-3 mins
| restriction_ft      = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_in      = <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
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}}

The '''Sky Swatter''' (sometimes '''Sky Swat''') was a thrill ride which was built by [[S&S Power]] of [[Logan, Utah]]. It was marketed from 2003 to 2010; only two ''Sky Swatter''s were manufactured. The first installation of a Sky Swatter was as ''SWAT'' at [[Six Flags AstroWorld]] in [[Houston, Texas]], which operated from 2003 until the park permanently closed at the end of the 2005 season.<ref name="SFAW"/> The ride then was moved to [[Six Flags New England]] and operated from 2006 through 2012 as ''Catapult''. The other Sky Swatter operated as ''Slammer'' at [[Thorpe Park]] from 2005 until the ride closed permanently in May 2017.

==History==
S&S Worldwide (then S&S Power) introduced the Sky Swatter at its Logan factory on October 3, 2002,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://usustatesman.com/cache-native-breaks-a-speed-record/ |title=Cache native breaks a speed record |author=Moon, Jacob |date=September 30, 2002 |newspaper=The Utah Statesman |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=Rowley-2002>{{cite news |url=https://www.hjnews.com/aerial-thrill-valley-firm-seeks-to-scale-new-heights-with-its-sky-swatter/article_6f4bb553-a9e0-50d6-b66f-c73ee72910f1.html |title=Aerial thrill: Valley firm seeks to scale new heights with its 'Sky Swatter' |author=Rowley, Joe |date=October 4, 2002 |newspaper=HJ News |access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref> as the company's first true [[flat ride]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screamscape.com/features/html/the_future_of_s-s_power.html |title=On Track: The Future of S&S Power |author= |date=October 8, 2002 |website=Screamscape |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref> The ride made its debut at Six Flags AstroWorld as ''SWAT'' for the 2003 season.<ref name="SFAW"/> On 28 March 2005, [[Thorpe Park]], near London, England, introduced a Sky Swatter as ''Slammer'',<ref name=AM-2005>{{cite news |url=https://www.attractionsmanagement.com/index.cfm?pagetype=news&codeID=10739 |title=Fault slams Slammer shut |date=April 13, 2005 |work=Attractions Management |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> which was the second and final Sky Swatter to be manufactured.<ref name=ThorpePR05>{{cite press release |url=https://rideentertainment.com/thorpe-park-enjoys-a-season-of-ss-powered-thrills/ |title=Thorpe Park Enjoys a Season of S&S-Powered Thrills! |date=2005 |website=RideEntertainment.com |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coastersandmore.de/rides/iaapa2004/iaapa1_e.shtml |title=IAAPA 2004 innovations |website=Coasters and more |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.s104638357.websitehome.co.uk/html/magazine_03_03.htm |title=J is for ... Sky Swat & Screamin' Swing |date=February 2005 |work=Coaster Kingdom |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref>

At the end of its operating season, Six Flags AstroWorld closed permanently on October 30, 2005.<ref name=Closed>{{cite news| url=http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2005/09/12/daily10.html | title=Houston's AstroWorld theme park to close | date=12 September 2005}}</ref> Several AstroWorld rides were relocated to other [[Six Flags]] parks between 2006 and 2010. [[Six Flags New England]] received two, both of which began operation for the 2006 season: SWAT (renamed to ''Catapult'') and ''Diablo Falls'' (a spinning [[river rapids ride]], renamed to ''Splash Water Falls'').<ref name="SFNE">{{cite web|url=http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/sixflags/23669/|title=Doubling the Fun AGAIN in 2006 With TWO New Rides!|work=Press Release|access-date=11 March 2013|date=2005}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Larsen MacColl]] acquired a majority share of the company from Stan Checketts,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.leisuremanagement.co.uk/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=220123 |title=Larsen completes S&S deal |author=Nash, Martin |date=October 6, 2010 |work=Leisure Management |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref> and S&S Worldwide discontinued the Sky Swatter. Following the loss of support, Catapult at Six Flags New England was removed in March 2013, prior to its 2013 operating season, leaving Slammer at Thorpe Park as the only operating Sky Swatter.<ref name="Removal">{{cite web|url=http://sfneonline.org/2013/03/05/six-flags-catapult-removed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311135158/http://sfneonline.org/2013/03/05/six-flags-catapult-removed/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 11, 2013|title=Catapult to be removed from Six Flags New England |author=Martins, Josh |website=SFNE Online |access-date=March 11, 2013|date= 5 March 2013}}</ref> In 2017, after major downtime, Slammer finally closed on May 4.<ref name=TP-tweet/> Its closure was announced in early 2024 with no official demolition date set.<ref name="slammer is gone">{{Cite web |last=Rodger |first=James |date=2024-02-16 |title=Thorpe Park announces two rides have shut permanently and fans 'not surprised' |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/thorpe-park-announces-two-rides-28646513 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en|quote=...with the closed-down Slammer also set to be removed from the park}}</ref>

==Design and ride experience==
[[File:Slammer at Thorpe Park (J.Thompson) 03.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|One row of seats on ''Slammer'', showing restraints and grid flooring (2010)]]
The concept for the Sky Swatter was developed by S&S CEO Stan Checketts starting in 1993; the restraints took an entire year to design, while the structure and ride only took five months.<ref name=Rowley-2002/> The Sky Swatter featured a long arm which sat between two towers, on either end of the arm were four rows of six seats; total throughput was estimated at 800 to 900 riders per hour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.s-spower.com/rides/skyswatter.html |title=Sky Swatter |date=December 20, 2007 |website=S&S Worldwide, Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220201736/http://www.s-spower.com/rides/skyswatter.html |archive-date=December 20, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The restraints consisted of a side-lowering lap bar and partially over-the-shoulder restraints, a restraint system also found on other S&S's attractions, [[Screamin' Swing]] and Sky Sling rides. The floor was ventilated, allowing air and small objects to escape through it.

When the Sky Swatter began operation, the arm was lifted to the top of the towers, where it then began to spin. As the arm spun between the two towers, riders orbited either up or down around the center. After a few flips, the ride reversed and flipped in the opposite direction. Riders reached speeds greater than {{cvt|30|mph}}.<ref name=AM-2005/>

==Installations==

<!-- This is a list of existing projects and CONFIRMED future projects. "Confirmed" means the park has issued a press release announcing it (acceptable) or a reliable source (i.e., local newspaper) has published an article mentioning its construction (preferable). This is not a wish-list nor is it a place for speculation and rumor. -->

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Location !! Opened !! Status 
|-
| ''Slammer'' || [[Thorpe Park]] || {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom || 2005 ||{{no|Removed}}
|-
| ''Catapult''<br/><small>Formerly ''SWAT''</small> || [[Six Flags New England]]<br/><small>[[Six Flags AstroWorld]]</small> || {{flagicon|USA}} United States || 2006<br/><small>2003 to 2005</small>|| {{no|Removed}}
|}

===Slammer===
[[File:Slammer at Thorpe Park.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=Slammer, a thrill ride at [[Thorpe Park]] in England. The ride carried up to 48 people in 2 groups of 24; each group is seated at one end of a long arm, with the groups facing each other. When in operation, the arm rotated about the center, inverting the riders, then stops and reverses.|''Slammer'' ([[Thorpe Park]])]]

Slammer was the second and final S&S Power Sky Swatter to be built, and the only in Europe. It debuted on 28 March 2005 at [[Thorpe Park]].<ref name=AM-2005/><ref name=ThorpePR05/>

Slammer was plagued with reliability issues starting from its opening in 2005;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://riderater.co.uk/6499/slammer-ride-leaving-thorpe-park/ |title=Slammer ride leaving Thorpe Park |date=May 4, 2017 |website=Ride Rater |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> the ride would get stuck with the arm locked at the top of the tower.<ref name=TPJ-Slammer/> The opening of the ride was delayed from the start of season by two days, and shut for more than two weeks following a fault on its second day of operation.<ref name=AM-2005/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4390000/newsid_4393900/4393943.stm |title=Group stuck on park's thrill ride |date=March 30, 2005 |work=CBBC Newsround |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref> On March 18 2006, the levelling mechanism failed, leaving riders trapped at a 45-degree angle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/4821066.stm |title=Broken ride traps thrill-seekers |date=March 18, 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/4822328.stm |title=Park closes ride after 41 trapped |date=March 19, 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref> In 2010, Slammer closed before the end of the season<ref>{{cite news |url=https://themeparkguide.biz/news-page/Slammer-Downtime |title=Slammer Downtime |date=16 September 2010 |website=Theme Park Guide |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> and experienced faults preventing the full lift of the arm at the start of 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://themeparkguide.biz/news-page/Slammer-reopens |title=Slammer Reopens |date=18 April 2011 |website=Theme Park Guide |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

Between 2012 and 2014, Slammer suffered prolonged downtime. For 2012, Slammer did not open until October.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://themeparkguide.biz/news-page/Slammer-reopens-following-massive-downtime |title=Slammer Reopens Following Massive Downtime |date=14 October 2012 |website=Theme Park Guide |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> All signage for the ride was removed at the end of 2012, giving the impression that Thorpe Park was not planning to open the ride anytime soon. For Fright Nights in 2013, the ride was removed from the actual park map.<ref name=TPJ-Slammer>{{cite web |url=https://www.themeparkjames.co.uk/theme-parks/europe/uk/thorpe-park/rides/slammer/ |title=The ultimate rotating freefall experience ... |website=Theme Park James |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> However, at the start of the 2014 season, the ride could be seen testing again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://themeparkguide.biz/news-page/Slammer-receives-extra-maintenance |title=Slammer Receives Extra Maintenance |date=26 April 2014 |website=Theme Park Guide |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

Slammer reopened for the 2015 season from May, operating for most the season. The ride would be closed at 3 pm daily for a 15-minute inspection. It then remained closed for part of that year's ''Fright Nights'' Halloween event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://themeparkguide.biz/news-page/Thorpe-Park-Slammer-Closes |title=Slammer Closes |date=15 October 2015 |website=Theme Park Guide |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> It then had a successful 2016 season.

It April 2017, after a brief period of operation, Thorpe Park announced Slammer would remain closed for the rest the season.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=852445927612743680 |author=THORPE PARK Resort |user=THORPEPARK |date=April 13, 2017 |title=Slammer is our only planned ride closure, we're hoping to have Stealth back in action ASAP}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=856483031359647745 |author=THORPE PARK Resort |user=THORPEPARK |date=April 24, 2017 |title=Hey Thomas, Slammer is closed for the season. Watch this space!}}</ref> On May 4, after 12 years service at the resort,<ref name=TP-tweet>{{cite tweet |number=860087357810278401 |author=THORPE PARK Resort |user=THORPEPARK |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Slammer has now left the resort after its 12 year residency.}}</ref> Thorpe Park stated Slammer had closed permanently and would be removed to make way for future attractions.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=906898729885736960 |author=THORPE PARK Resort |user=THORPEPARK |date=September 10, 2017 |title=Slammer unfortunately will be taken down and not opened again}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thorpepark.com/about-thorpe-park/heritage/ |title=Thorpe Park Heritage |website=Thorpe Park |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> However, the ride stayed in situ unoperational for many years.

From 2021 to 2023, the ''Black Mirror Labyrinth'' utilized Slammer's old queue.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://themeparkguide.biz/construction-projects/Black-Mirror-Labyrinth-Construction |title=First Look at Black Mirror Labyrinth Entrance Portal |date=12 April 2021 |website=Theme Park Guide |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

As of February 2025, Removal of Slammer has begun, with large pieces of the rides structure being cut up on site and removed from the structure with a large crane. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlvmQYVRmu4 |title=Slammer at @ThorpeParkOfficial is being removed! #slammer #thorpepark #removal #demolition |date=2025-02-05 |last=XplorerCentralVideos |access-date=2025-02-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

=== Catapult (SWAT) ===
[[File:SWAT at Six Flags AstroWorld 01.jpg|thumb|right|SWAT at [[Six Flags AstroWorld]] (2004)]]
''SWAT'' was one of two new rides added to [[Six Flags AstroWorld]] for the 2003 season; a press release from February touted the unique installation.<ref name=SFAW>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/2003/stories/020703_01.shtml |title=Two New Thrill Rides Announced For Six Flags Astroworld |date=February 7, 2003 |website=UltimateRollercoaster.com |access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref>

''SWAT'' was moved to [[Six Flags New England]] from AstroWorld after that park closed on October 30, 2005; at New England, the ride was renamed ''Catapult'', and opened for the 2006 season. It operated sporadically through 2006 and 2007 due to maintenance issues, and the park announced it would not return for the 2008 season; however, the restraint system was rehabilitated and it operated with greater reliability from 2008 until it was removed in March 2013, prior to the 2013 season.<ref name="Removal"/>
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.thorpepark.com/rides/slammer.aspx Slammer at Thorpe Park Resort]
* {{YouTube |id=dA-mY6MRxkY |title=The Abandoned History of Slammer - The Last Sky Swatter {{!}} Expedition Thorpe Park}}
* {{cite patent |number=2004053701 |country=US |title=Elevating rotary amusement ride |invent1=Stanley Checketts |invent2=Ned Hansen |pridate=September 16, 2002 |pubdate=March 18, 2004 |status=patent}}
* {{YouTube |id=QwIHQBDlzQM |title=Prototype Sky Swatter}} in operation at Logan, Utah

{{S&S Worldwide}}
{{Six Flags AstroWorld}}
{{Six Flags New England}}
{{Thorpe Park}}
{{Amusement rides}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sky Swat}}
[[Category:S&S – Sansei Technologies]]
[[Category:Amusement rides introduced in 2003]]
[[Category:Amusement rides that closed in 2017]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2017]]
[[Category:Six Flags AstroWorld]]