Eyerly Aircraft Company was an amusement ride manufacturing company in Salem, Oregon, founded by Lee Eyerly in 1930. The company originally intended to design flight simulators for the aircraft industry but shifted to amusement rides after an early simulator, called Orientator, became a popular pay-per-ride attraction with the public. The company manufactured rides until 1985 and went bankrupt in 1990, following a fatal accident in 1988 on a ride built by the company.

Aircraft manufacturing Lee Eyerly founded Eyerly Aircraft Company in 1930 to manufacture two inexpensive ways to train pilots which he devised when the Great Depression hit: the Whiffle Hen, a plane which only burned two US gallons (8 L) of fuel per hour of flight, and a ground-based flight training device patented under the name "Orientator". The Orientator consisted of a small airplane suspended in what looked like the tines of a giant tuning fork. Air from the electrically driven propeller passed over the wings and rudder, and the operator controlled the movements of the plane in a manner similar to a real aircraft. The Orientator was produced commercially and eventually renamed "Acroplane".

Amusement rides A salesman approached Eyerly about selling Acroplanes to carnivals and parks as an amusement ride after noticing several stored on the lot outside Eyerly's shop. While Eyerly was initially skeptical, he agreed to a deal which led to selling about 50 Acroplanes as an amusement ride. The following year, Eyerly changed the company's focus from aircraft to amusement rides based on the successful sales. Eyerly developed and patented numerous amusement rides which would become staples of carnival midways, including The Loop-O-Plane (1933), the Roll-O-Plane, the Fly-O-Plane and the Rock-O-Plane (1947). Perhaps their most popular design was the Octopus, which resulted in later variations: the Spider and the Monster. Two of the company's kiddie carousel rides were the Midge-O-Racer and Bulgy the Whale.

Although Eyerly's manufacturing business became amusement rides, the name of the company remained Eyerly Aircraft Company.

A partial list of the Eyerly Aircraft Company rides and their locations follows. +NameModelParkOpenClosedDetailsMonster1962 Seattle World's FairAppears similar to a Monster, but only had 5 arms instead of the typical 6.Rock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneAll Star Adventures (Wichita, Kansas)SpiderSpiderAll Star Adventures (Wichita, Kansas)SpiderSpiderAll Star Amusements (Showman)Freddie the FishBulgy the WhaleArnolds ParkRock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneArnolds ParkUnknownOpenRoll-O-PlaneRoll-O-PlaneArnolds ParkUnknownOpenSpiderSpiderArnolds ParkUnknownClosedRock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneBig Amusements (Showman)Monster!MonsterBlackpool Pleasure Beach1968Dragon LoopsLoop-O-PlaneBlue Sky Amusements (Showman)Killer WhalesBulgy the WhaleBoardwalk Amusements (Daytona Beach, Florida)2017Trailer mounted; new whale vehicles.Monstrous MambaMonsterBusch Gardens Tampa1976After removal the ride was sold for scrap.OctopusOctopusC&L Shows (Showman)LobsterMonsterCalifornia's Great America1976SpiderSpiderCamden ParkRemoved after incident hospitalized three riders.FuryMonsterCanada's Wonderland1981Originally named Shiva's Fury. Sat in storage after removal. Ultimately sent to Kings Island for spare part usage on their similar Monster.Black WidowMonsterCarowinds1973Originally named The Witch Doctor. Relocated within park in 1977. Replaced with Cinema 180.SpiderSpiderCastle ParkMonsterMonsterCedar Point1970Refurbished in 2014 alongside renovated Gemini Midway. Closed in 2025 and promptly removed in 2026.MonsterMonsterConey Island1968Relocated to Kings Island after park closure.Rock-O-PlanesRock-O-PlaneConey Island2007Relocated from LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park. Following removal, listed for sale on Rides4U for $19,000.Clown FishBulgy the WhaleDeggeller Attractions, Inc. (Showman)WhalesBulgy the WhaleDelGrosso's Amusement ParkMonsterMonsterDorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom1995Removed for addition of Dominator in 1998, but refurbished and returned to operation in 2000.MonsterMonsterEsselWorld (India)OctopusOctopusFantasy Farm (Middletown, Ohio)1987Purchased by Nolan Amusements for $17,500 after park closed.SpiderSpiderFun Spot America Theme Parks (Atlanta)Black SquidSpiderGeauga Lake1970Relocated to Kings Dominion; sat in storage but never operated.MonsterMonsterGhost Town Village1992Ride did not reopen with park in 2007.Bulgy the GoldfishBulgy the WhaleGilroy GardensOctopusOctopusHammerl Amusements (Showman)MonsterMonsterHersheypark1972Replaced by Tilt-A-Whirl.Dancer's FishBulgy the WhaleHoliday World & Splashin' SafariPreviously named Salmon Run. Relocated within park for 2014 season.Paul Revere's Midnight RideSpiderHoliday World & Splashin' Safari1978Originally named Spider Ride. Removed due to dependability issues.Green MachineLoop-O-PlaneHydro Free Fair1980sSpiderSpiderIdlewild & Soak Zone1982Loop-O-PlaneLoop-O-PlaneIdora Park1936MonsterMonsterIdora Park1972Flying OcotpusOctopusIdora Park1938Acquired from Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland.Rock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneIdora Park1976SpiderSpiderIdora Park1973Clown FishBulgy the WhaleJames H. Drew Exposition (Showman)SpiderJolly Roger at 30th StreetLoop-O-PlaneKeansburg Amusement ParkLoop-O-PlaneLoop-O-PlaneKennywoodMonongahela MonsterMonsterKennywood1979Roll-O-PlaneRoll-O-PlaneKennywood1950MonsterMonsterKings Dominion1975Originally named Bad Apple.MonsterMonsterKings Island1972Relocated from Coney Island after park closure. Maintained with parts from The Fury at Canada's Wonderland.Rock-O-PlanesRock-O-PlaneKissel Entertainment (Showman)SatelliteRoll-O-PlaneKnoebels Amusement ResortBulgy the WhaleBulgy the WhaleLagoon1956Rock-O-PlanesRock-O-PlaneLagoon8 May 1954OctopusOctopusLagoon8 May 1954Loop-O-PlaneLoop-O-PlaneLagoon19721987Roll-O-PlaneRoll-O-PlaneLagoon30 Mar 1947Burned down in fire of 1953.Roll-O-PlaneRoll-O-PlaneLagoon8 May 1954Roll-O-PlaneSuper Roll-O-PlaneLagoon1 Apr 1972Metal fatigue caused the arm to bend during the ride cycle when it was rotating horizontally. No one on the ride was injured.Fly-O-PlaneFly-O-PlaneLake Winnepesaukah2000Ejected two riders in 2016.MonsterMonsterLakemont ParkOctopusOctopusLakemont ParkLoop-O-PlaneLoop-O-PlaneLakeside Amusement ParkGiant OctopusOctopusLeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park1944Rock-O-PlanesRock-O-PlaneLeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park1949Received new cars in 1990. Relocated to Coney Island after park closure.Mustekala MonsterLinnanmäki1979After removal the ride was scrapped and replaced with a similar, more efficient model.SpiderSpiderLuna Park, Melbourne1983Head on top of Spider designed by children's book author Leigh Hobbs in 2001. Ride modified to enable all the arms to load and unload simultaneously.Willie the WhaleBulgy the WhaleMichael's Amusements (Showman)Bullet Loop-O-PlaneMiracle Strip Amusement ParkThis ride was sold to Sylvan Beach, New York's Amusement Park after Miracle Strip permanently closed, but later transformed into a Rock-O-Plane. SpiderMonsterModern Midways (Showman)Rock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneOaks Amusement ParkSpiderSpiderOaks Amusement ParkAhuna Thrill Ride, TheOctopusPacific Ocean ParkOriginally named Mrs. Squid. Dual Tub Octopus with a squid decor in the center.Mr. OctopusOctopusPacific Ocean ParkSpiderRace City PCBBulgy the WhaleBulgy the WhaleSanta Cruz Beach BoardwalkMonsterMonsterSilverwoodReplaced by Trabant.Black DragonMonsterSix Flags AstroWorld1968Jolly MonsterMonsterSix Flags Magic Mountain1973SpiderSpiderSix Flags New England1968Crazy LegsMonsterSix Flags Over Texas1973MoMo the MonsterMonsterSix Flags St. Louis1973Replaced by River View Racer.Bulgy the WhaleBulgy the WhaleSkerbeck Family Carnival (Showman)MonsterMonsterSunshine Amusements (Showman)Crashed during 1988 Broward County Fair, causing a fatality. After the incident, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission asked all owners and operators of Monster attractions to perform metallurgical inspection of their rides.Rock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneSylvan Beach Amusement ParkBomberRoll-O-PlaneSylvan Beach Amusement ParkBulgy the WhaleBulgy the WhaleTinkertown Family Fun ParkRock-O-PlanesRock-O-PlaneUpper Clements ParksMonsterMonsterValleyfair1977Using the former Octopus at Worlds of Fun for spare parts.Bulgy the WhaleBulgy the WhaleWade Shows (Showman)OctopusOctopusWhalom ParkFunnel WebSpiderWonderland Sydney1985Removed and placed in storage; current whereabouts unknown.OctopusMonsterWorlds of Fun1973Originally named Oriental Octopus, then later Tailspinner. Ride was absent from park for 1997 season, but returned in 1998 with new cars. Its pieces are currently used for Monster at Valleyfair.GuppiesBulgy the WhaleWyandot LakeBarracudaRock-O-PlaneWyandot LakeBlack SquidSpiderWyandot LakeLittle RacersMidge-O-RacerPlayland, Fresno, CA1955Ride was one of the originals when Rotary Playland opened in 1955 on the SW corner of Roeding Park in Fresno, CA. It was called "Midge-O-Racer" but the name was changed to "Little Racers" after a generous donation from a local car dealership. Rock-O-PlaneRock-O-PlaneThomas Amusements (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada)

Closure Eyerly Aircraft Company continued to produce amusement rides until 1985. A fatal accident occurred at the Broward County Fair in Florida in 1988, when an arm (carrying four rider baskets) of a Monster ride snapped along an existing crack that had been painted over years before, and had then been missed in inspections. A 17-year-old girl died of head injuries when the basket she was riding in collided with another as it fell to the ground, and at least six others were injured. A wrongful death lawsuit was brought against the ride's owner and county fair operator for failure to properly inspect and reinforce the ride, despite Eyerley's warning bulletins recommending maintenance. Following the lawsuit against the operator, Eyerly Aircraft's insurance premiums increased and became unaffordable; the company filed for bankruptcy and closed in 1990. The rights to their rides were later purchased by Oregon Rides Inc.

See also

Octopus (ride)

References