Abstract: A skydiving simulator combines a vertical air chamber with a video projection system on the interior wall. A virtual reality environment is created as the skydiver, while suspended, sees actual film footage of scenarios descending toward earth. A skydiver backpack houses a transmitter which interactively steps the skydiver through emergency procedures.

Abstract: A passenger car sized pendulum is supported by a moving pivot point. The moving pivot point is forced horizontally by the angular movement of the pendulum. By resisting the horizontal force the angular movement of the pendulum is reduced. The preferred embodiment for resisting the horizontal force is a parallelogram assembly supporting a horizontal support platform. The parallelogram assembly has a damping cylinder resisting the horizontal force.

Abstract: The ride (10) is capable of raising a rider (22) to a height of ten meters or more above the ground, and then releasing the rider to swing. It includes a support structure (12), a support line (16) secured to the support structure at one end, with an opposed end secured to a rider, preferably to an attachment which is worn by a rider (20). A launch structure (26) is spaced from the support structure (12) and carries a launch line (24) which has an end (48) which is capable of being raised and lowered above the ground, and which is designed to be releasably attached to a rider attachment, so as to lift a rider from the ground. In operation the rider attachment with the support line attached is secured to the rider, the launch line is releasably secured to the attachment, and the launch line is activated to move the rider laterally and upwardly towards the top of the launch structure.

Abstract: The ride is capable of raising a rider to a height of thirty feet or more above the ground, and then releasing the rider to swing. It includes a support structure, a support line secured to the support structure at one end, with an opposed end secured to a rider, preferably to an attachment which is worn by a rider. A launch structure is spaced from the support structure and carries a launch line which has an end which is capable of being raised and lowered above the ground, and which is designed to be releasibly attached to the rider attachment to lift a rider from the ground. A release device is located between the launch line and the rider attachment. In operation, the rider attachment with the support line attached is secured to the rider, the launch line is releasibly secured to the attachment, and the launch line is activated to move the rider laterally and upwardly towards the top of the launch structure.