World's biggest wheel starts turning

Remember the excitement of going in the 'giant wheel' at carnivals? Well, some of you who have been to England may have gone on the London Eye and enjoyed the thrilling ride on this giant Ferris wheel. But, you'll be surprised to learn that a wheel bigger than the London Eye is now ready to give you more excitement high up in the skies...

It's not going to end there. The countries are competing to set up bigger Ferris wheels and soon the Singapore Flyer will take a back seat.

The world's biggest observation wheel began turning in Singapore on Monday, February 11, evening, with corporate clients paying thousands of dollars for their "inaugural flight."

The 42-storey-high wheel, which offers a 360-degree view across the island republic and 'on a good day' into neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, began its slow revolutions under hazy skies at about 10.55 GMT.

At 165 metres, the Singapore Flyer is 30 metres higher than Britain's London Eye, said Great Wheel Corp, which built the Singapore attraction. "The ride was rather exciting and relaxing.

It gives a good view of the skyline. It is a different experience from the London Eye and the view at night is beautiful," Koh Choon Heong, a local businessman, told AFP after making two revolutions on the wheel. He said he had previously visited the British attraction. "This is one special Ferris wheel.

I'm excited to be the first few on it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed so that it will be clear up there," Koh Pang An, a Singapore company director, said earlier as hundreds of smartly dressed guests waited to board.

Unlike cramped, old-style Ferris wheel carriages that hang in the open air, the Singapore Flyer and other large observation wheels feature fixed "capsules." The 28 sleek-looking capsules 'about the size of a city bus' are air conditioned and can hold up to 28 people.

Passengers can walk around and will not feel movement or vibration during their ride, which usually lasts about 30 minutes, the company said. Organisers said the attraction's first three nights were sold out, with companies and individuals paying S$8888 (US$6264), an auspicious number in Chinese culture, for the first rides.

Haze limited visibility for the first passengers, but they could see some outlying islands and Singapore's main Orchard Road tourist strip during the sunset experience. "It was a very comfortable ride. Doesn't feel jerky at all," said one passenger, S.K. Chan.

Singapore's wheel is located across from the Marina Bay Sands casino complex set to open in 2009, and is near the pit area of a Formula One Grand Prix street race to be held for the first time in the city-state in September.

The London Eye, which opened at the turn of the century, was the first of the new generation wheels, Bollen said. His Singapore-based company, Great Wheel Corp, is also building wheels in Beijing and Berlin, which will edge out the Singapore Flyer as the world's biggest when they begin turning in about two years, he said.

AFP

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Quick Facts

Big wheels keep getting bigger...

* London Eye is 443 ft high with a capacity to carry 800 passengers and takes about half an hour to complete one round. The passengers can see as far as Windsor Castle - that is 25 miles from the wheel.

* Singapore Flyer is 541 high with a capacity to carry 784 passengers. It also takes half an hour to complete a full circle and people can see as far as 30 miles.

* Beijns Great Wheel scheduled to be launched in 2009 is 682 ft high and has a capacity to carry 1920 passengers. The view extends to about 40 miles away because parts of the Great Wall of China could be seen from the wheel.

* The Great Dubai Wheel scheduled to be opened late this year is 607ft high.