Here is Firefighter's Ladder, a S&S Sky Swat flat ride I created in Minecraft! The S&S Sky Swat is a extinct ride, because none are left in operation anymore!
Timestamps:
6:14: Tour of the Queue, Paddles and Large Boom:
8:58: Climbing The Lift Structure Ladder:
11:35: Shots from Top of the Lift Structure:
12:29: The Ride In Motion:
14:05: On Ride POVs:
16:05: More Screenshots:
Dedicated To Stan Checketts, Co-Founder of S&S Worldwide, February 6, 1941 - January 2, 2022.
History on the S&S Sky Swat:
The Sky Swat was a thrill ride manufactured by S&S Worldwide. The ride resembled a double-ended giant fly swatter flipping in the air. The ride lifted to the top and bottom. The giant fly swatter flipped guests upside down either forwards or backwards or vice versa six times depending on which paddle they rode. The ride had capacity for 24 people on both paddles, making a total of 48 riders. The ride was powered by air and featured air tanks.
S&S Worldwide build and constructed the first prototype S&S Sky Swat flat ride at their manufacturing plant in Logan, Utah, USA in 2002. It was painted white and yellow. The prototype was later sold to Six Flags in late 2002/early 2003, and was transported to Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston, Texas. It was rebuilt on the former site of Texas Tornado, a Schwarzkopf multi-looping roller coaster that was relocated to Six Flags Marine World after the 2002 season. It was repainted yellow and orange, to fit the theme of the Mexicana area of the park, and was named SWAT. SWAT opened in 2003. It was featured on Discovery Channel's Extreme Rides 2003. In 2005, Thorpe Park in Chertsey, United Kingdom opened a S&S Sky Swat called Slammer. This was the second and final S&S Sky Swat ever built. SWAT operated at Six Flags AstroWorld from 2003 to 2005 until the park closed at the end of the 2005 season. After Six Flags AstroWorld closed on October 30th 2005, SWAT was disassembled and taken down during November 2005 and was relocated to Six Flags New England to open for the 2006 season. It was rebuilt and constructed at the park during early 2006. It reopened as Catapult at Six Flags New England in 2006, located next to Cyclone and Taz's Dare Devil Dive. From opening in 2006 to 2007, Catapult only operated sporadically. It suffered from maintenance issues, mainly with it's restraints. Near the end of October 2007, Six Flags New England announced it would be removed from the park for the 2008 season along with 4 other attractions, but later changed plans and decided to refurbish the ride, fixing issues with the restraints. It reopened in 2008 and operated regularly. Catapult continued to operate until 2012. In 2010, S&S Worldwide discontinued production of the S&S Sky Swat due to low popularity. Near the end of February 2013, there were rumors circulating that Catapult will not open at Six Flags New England in 2013. Six Flags New England confirmed that rumors were true and that Catapult will not be reopening and will be removed before the start of the 2013 season. The ride was then disassembled during early March 2013 and was cut up for scrap metal and hauled off. The queue for New England Sky Screamer is now located where Catapult was located. Slammer at Thorpe Park suffered major downtime during 2010, 2012 and 2014 and many people at the time thought the ride was going to be removed from the park. The ride was plagued with issues since opening in 2005, such as getting stuck during rides. Slammer did reopen in 2015, but had to be regularly inspected and opened at different times than the rest of the park. The ride still suffered from technical and mechanical errors. Slammer operated well in 2016 and quietly operated for the last time on October 26th 2016. In 2017, Thorpe Park confirmed that Slammer will remain closed for the 2017 season, most likely due to continued technical issues. A few weeks later on May 4th 2017, Thorpe Park confirmed Slammer will be removed from the park and will be closed permanently to make room for new attractions. In 2021, The Black Mirror Labyrinth maze used the ride's structure, paddles and boom as queue line scenery. As of 2022, The ride still stands at Thorpe Park.