History
This attraction debuted in 1970.[1][2] It was owned by the company Beuermann of Germany[3] and is one of two Apollo 14 rides built by Schwarzkopf. It originally consisted of individual "landing pods" in five groups of four, which moved up and down and also in circles, similar to the movement of a Ferris Wheel. Apollo 14 proved to be uneconomical as a travelling ride and was sold to Ponypark (now called Attractiepark Slagharen) in the Netherlands.[4]
For some time the ride operated beside the other Apollo 14, which had by this time been converted to a chair-o-plane.[4][5]
In the 1980s, the ride was moved to Dreamland Margate which was also owned by Bembom Brothers at the time. For 1991, this unit was converted to a chair-o-plane, like its twin, repainted and renamed Heatwave.[6] It closed in 1995 and was subsequently leased to Lightwater Valley, where it operated from 1998 to 2004 as Orbiter. It was moved once again, this time to Loudoun Castle another amusement park owned by Bembom Rides. It opened under the new name Plough and operated from 2005 to the closure of the park in 2010. It remains standing but not operating.
References