Eyerly Aircraft Company
{{Infobox company
|name = Eyerly Aircraft Company
|logo = Eyerly Aircraft Company logo.png
|caption =
|type =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|foundation = {{Start date|1930}}
|founder = Lee Eyerly
|defunct = {{End date|1985}}
|location_city = Salem, Oregon
|location_country = United States
|area_served = Worldwide
|key_people =
|industry = Manufacturing and design
|products = Aircraft, amusement rides
|revenue =
|operating_income =
|net_income =
|assets =
|equity =
|owner =
|num_employees =
|parent =
|divisions =
|subsid =
|footnotes =
}}
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,{{cite web |url=http://oregonaviation.org/hall-of-fame/ | title=Oregon Aviation Hall of Fame | work=Oregon Aviation Historical Society | access-date=2015-07-12}} 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.{{Cite journal | title = Eyerlys Keep Eyes in Air for Well-Grounded Ideas | author = Abbott, Sam | journal = The Billboard | date = June 30, 1951 | access-date = 2015-07-12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8h4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA91 | page = 91 }} 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),{{cite journal | journal=Western Flying Magazine | title=Eyerly Invents "Loop-O-Plane" | volume=13 | year=1933 | publisher=Occidental Publishing Company | page=24}} the Roll-O-Plane,{{cite news|title=Loop-o-Plane, Octopus and Rolloplane |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2798530/daily_capital_journal/|newspaper=Daily Capital Journal|date=May 6, 1939|page=12|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = July 12, 2015}} {{Open access}} the Fly-O-Plane and the Rock-O-Plane (1947).{{Cite web | title = Rock O Plane | publisher = Amusement Ride Extravaganza | work = ride-extravaganza.com | access-date = 2015-07-12 |url=http://www.ride-extravaganza.com/thrill/rock-o-plane/ }}{{Cite web | title = Rock-O-Plane | publisher = Lewellen Amusements | work = lewellenamusements.com | access-date = 2015-07-12 |url=http://www.lewellenamusements.com/Rock.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324161405/http://www.lewellenamusements.com/Rock.html |archive-date=March 24, 2010}} 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.{{Cite web | title = Amusement & Carnival Rides by Manufacturer | publisher = The Flat Joint | work = flatrides.com | access-date = 2015-07-12 |url=http://www.flatrides.com/ridesbyman.shtml }}
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.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Name !Model !Park !Open !Closed !Details ! |
| Monster
|{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} |Appears similar to a Monster, but only had 5 arms instead of the typical 6. | |
| Rock-O-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |All Star Adventures (Wichita, Kansas) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} |{{Cite web|url=http://www.allstarwichita.com/adventures/rides--attractions/|title=Go-Karts, Miniature Golf, Bumper Boats, Video and Redemption Games and more! - All Star Adventures|website=www.allstarwichita.com|access-date=2020-04-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/p_708_11642_all_star_adventures_rock-o-plane|title=All Star Adventures - Rock-o-Plane|website=www.themeparkreview.com|access-date=2020-04-12}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |All Star Adventures (Wichita, Kansas) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} |{{Cite web|url=https://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/p_708_11645_all_star_adventures_spider|title=All Star Adventures - Spider|website=www.themeparkreview.com|access-date=2020-04-12}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |All Star Amusements (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{N/A|Unknown}} | | |
| Freddie the Fish
|Bulgy the Whale |{{NA|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Rock-O-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |Unknown |Open | |
| Roll-O-Plane
|Roll-O-Plane |Unknown |Open | |
| Spider
|Spider |Unknown |Closed | |
| Rock-O-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |Big Amusements (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | | |
| Monster!
|Monster |1968 |{{no|1995}} | |
| Dragon Loops
|Loop-O-Plane |Blue Sky Amusements (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Killer Whales
|Bulgy the Whale |Boardwalk Amusements (Daytona Beach, Florida) |2017 |{{no|Closed}} |Trailer mounted; new whale vehicles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20170623/new-rides-open-on-daytona-boardwalk|title=New rides open on Daytona Boardwalk|last=Zaffiro-Kean|first=Eileen|website=Daytona Beach News-Journal Online|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} | |
| Monstrous Mamba
|Monster |1976 |{{no|1995}} |After removal the ride was sold for scrap.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/330981665/|title=Ferocious fun, Busch-style|last=Albright|first=Mark|date=September 7, 2007|work=Tamba Bay Times|access-date=November 16, 2019}} | |
| Octopus
|Octopus |C&L Shows (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Lobster
|Monster |1976 |{{no|Closed}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|2011}} |Removed after incident hospitalized three riders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/three-hospitalized-after-spider-ride-collapses-at-camden-park/article_7d18d931-1189-56be-ae79-b2fe0acca72d.html|title=Three hospitalized after Spider ride collapses at Camden Park|last=Herald-DispatchHerald-Dispatch.com|first=2011/The|website=The Herald-Dispatch|language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}} | |
| Fury
|Monster |1981 |{{no|2003}} |Originally named Shiva's Fury. Sat in storage after removal. Ultimately sent to Kings Island for spare part usage on their similar Monster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/april/the-aviation-pioneer-that-invented-kings-islands-monster|title=The aviation pioneer that invented Kings Island's Monster - Kings Island|website=www.visitkingsisland.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-09}} | |
| Black Widow
|Monster |1973 |{{no|1987}} |Originally named The Witch Doctor. Relocated within park in 1977. Replaced with Cinema 180.{{Cite web|url=http://carowindsearlyyears.com/witchdoctor.html|title=Carowinds: The Early Years|website=carowindsearlyyears.com|access-date=2019-11-16}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |1970 |{{yes|Open}} |Refurbished in 2014 alongside renovated Gemini Midway.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201405/4013/|title=A new Gemini Midway highlights a new season at Cedar Point|website=Theme Park Insider|access-date=2020-04-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/rides/monster|title=Monster {{!}} Cedar Point|website=www.cedarpoint.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-16}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |1968 |{{no|1971}} |Relocated to Kings Island after park closure.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100904329/|title=Coney Island 'All Set' for Decoration Day Crowds|date=May 26, 1968|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=November 16, 2019}} | |
| Rock-O-Planes
|Rock-O-Plane |2007 |{{no|2019}} |Relocated from LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park. Following removal, listed for sale on Rides4U for $19,000. | |
| Clown Fish
|Bulgy the Whale |Deggeller Attractions, Inc. (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Whales
|Bulgy the Whale |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom |1995 |{{no|2023}} |Removed for addition of Dominator in 1998, but refurbished and returned to operation in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dorneypark.com/play/rides/monster|title=Monster {{!}} Dorney Park|website=www.dorneypark.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |EsselWorld (India) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} |{{Cite web|url=https://www.esselworld.in/travel/attractions-list.html#Family|title=Ride Attractions at EsselWorld|website=EsselWorld|access-date=April 11, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/p_599_9150_esselworld_monster|title=EsselWorld - Monster|website=www.themeparkreview.com|access-date=2020-04-12}} | |
| Octopus
|Octopus |Fantasy Farm (Middletown, Ohio) |1987 |{{no|1991}} |Purchased by Nolan Amusements for $17,500 after park closed.{{Cite news|last=Findsen|first=Owen|date=May 17, 1987|title=Tristate boasts coaster to coaster thrills this year|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/101853003/|access-date=November 7, 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Futrell|first=James|title=Ohio's Fantasy Farm Auctioned After Twenty-Eight Years|url=http://fantasyfarm.org/Defunct%20Amusement%20Parksauction.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222025226/http://fantasyfarm.org/Defunct%20Amusement%20Parksauction.htm|archive-date=February 22, 2007|access-date=November 7, 2020|website=Fantasy Farm Memorial Website}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |Fun Spot America Theme Parks (Atlanta) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Black Squid
|Spider |1970 |{{no|2007}} |Relocated to Kings Dominion; sat in storage but never operated. | |
| Monster
|Monster |1992 |{{no|2000}} |Ride did not reopen with park in 2007. | |
| Bulgy the Goldfish
|Bulgy the Whale |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Octopus
|Octopus |Hammerl Amusements (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |1972 |{{no|1982}} |Replaced by Tilt-A-Whirl.{{Cite web|url=https://amusementparkives.com/2016/07/28/tbt-23-monster-1972-1982/|title=Monster [Hersheypark] {{!}} 1972-1982|last=Michelson|first=Harry|date=2016-07-28|website=The Amusement Parkives|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-12}} | |
| Dancer's Fish
|Bulgy the Whale |Holiday World & Splashin' Safari |{{NA|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} |Previously named Salmon Run. Relocated within park for 2014 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.holidayworld.com/rides/dancers-fish/|title=Dancer's Fish|website=Holiday World|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-20}} | |
| Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
|Spider |Holiday World & Splashin' Safari |1978 |{{no|2011}} |Originally named Spider Ride. Removed due to dependability issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/HolidayWorld/posts/143435069087906|title=Holiday World & Splashin' Safari|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-20}} | |
| Green Machine
|Loop-O-Plane |Hydro Free Fair |1980s |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Loop-O-Plane
|Loop-O-Plane |1936 |{{no|Closed}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |1972 |{{no|Closed}} | |
| Flying Ocotpus
|Octopus |1938 |{{no|Closed}} |Acquired from Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland. | |
| Rock-O-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |1976 |{{no|1984}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |1973 |{{no|Closed}} | |
| Clown Fish
|Bulgy the Whale |James H. Drew Exposition (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| {{N/A|Unknown}}
|Spider |Jolly Roger at 30th Street |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{N/A|Unknown}} | | |
| {{N/A|Unknown}}
|Loop-O-Plane |Keansburg Amusement Park |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{N/A|Unknown}} | |
| Loop-O-Plane
|Loop-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|1950}} | |
| Monongahela Monster
|Monster |1979 |{{no|1989}} | | |
| Roll-O-Plane
|Roll-O-Plane |1950 |{{no|2003}} | | |
| Monster
|Monster |1975 |{{no|1988}} |Originally named Bad Apple.{{Cite book|title=Kings Dominion|last=Rutherford|first=Scott|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4671-2301-3|location=Charleston, South Carolina|pages=30}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |1972 |{{yes|Open}} |Relocated from Coney Island after park closure. Maintained with parts from The Fury at Canada's Wonderland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitkingsisland.com/play/rides/monster|title=Monster {{!}} Kings Island|website=www.visitkingsisland.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-16}} | |
| Rock-O-Planes
|Rock-O-Plane |Kissel Entertainment (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{N/A|Unknown}} | | |
| Satellite
|Roll-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Bulgy the Whale
|Bulgy the Whale |1956 |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Rock-O-Planes
|Rock-O-Plane |8 May 1954 |{{yes|Open}} | | |
| Octopus
|Octopus |8 May 1954 |{{no|1979}} | | |
| Loop-O-Plane
|Loop-O-Plane |1972 |1987 | | |
| Roll-O-Plane
|Roll-O-Plane |30 Mar 1947 |{{no|1953}} |Burned down in fire of 1953. | |
| Roll-O-Plane
|Roll-O-Plane |8 May 1954 |{{no|1971}} | | |
| Roll-O-Plane
|Super Roll-O-Plane |1 Apr 1972 |{{no|2002}} |Metal fatigue caused the arm to bend during the ride cycle when it was rotating horizontally. No one on the ride was injured. | |
| Fly-O-Plane
|Fly-O-Plane |2000 |{{no|Closed}} |Ejected two riders in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://newschannel9.com/news/local/lake-winnepesaukah-ride-victims-family-speaks-to-newschannel-9-about-ordeal|title=Lake Winnepesaukah ride victim's family speaks to NewsChannel 9 about ordeal|last=Sneed|first=Calvin|date=2016-07-20|website=WTVC|access-date=2020-04-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.flatrides.com/rides/flyoplane.html|title=Eyerly Fly-O-Plane|website=www.flatrides.com|access-date=2019-11-16}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} | |
| Octopus
|Octopus |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} | |
| Loop-O-Plane
|Loop-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | | |
| Giant Octopus
|Octopus |LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park |1944 |{{no|Closed}} | | |
| Rock-O-Planes
|Rock-O-Plane |LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park |1949 |{{no|Closed}} |Received new cars in 1990. Relocated to Coney Island after park closure. | |
| Mustekala
|Monster |1979 |{{no|1984}} |After removal the ride was scrapped and replaced with a similar, more efficient model. | |
| Spider
|Spider |1983 |{{yes|Open}} |Head 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.{{Cite web|title=Spider - Luna Park Melbourne - Offride|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksbBk-BbnLw&fbclid=IwAR2fxFBzdJ-q3mTLvexW0HOaIgI80GsuJUXPdAJKuu_yHS0PebnCOGsYYII|last=Mitty Theme Parks|date=March 29, 2015|website=YouTube|access-date=May 1, 2020}} | |
| Willie the Whale
|Bulgy the Whale |Michael's Amusements (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Bullet
|Loop-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|2004}} |This ride was sold to Sylvan Beach, New York's Amusement Park after Miracle Strip permanently closed, but later transformed into a Rock-O-Plane. | |
| Spider
|Monster |Modern Midways (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | | |
| Rock-O-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | | |
| Spider
|Spider |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | | |
| Ahuna Thrill Ride, The
|Octopus |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} |Originally named Mrs. Squid. Dual Tub Octopus with a squid decor in the center.{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9L-ODwAAQBAJ&q=%22THE+AHUNA+THRILL+RIDE%22&pg=PA62|title=P.O.P Go the Bubbles at... Pacific Ocean Park!|last=Shaw|first=Scott|date=Spring 2019|work=Retro Fan|access-date=November 15, 2019}} | |
| Mr. Octopus
|Octopus |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} | |
| {{N/A|Unknown}}
|Spider |Race City PCB |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{N/A|Unknown}} | | |
| Bulgy the Whale
|Bulgy the Whale |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} |Replaced by Trabant. | |
| Black Dragon
|Monster |1968 |{{no|1977}} | |
| Jolly Monster
|Monster |1973 |{{no|1981}} | |
| Spider
|Spider |1968 |{{no|2006}} | | |
| Crazy Legs
|Monster |1973 |{{no|1982}} | |
| MoMo the Monster
|Monster |1973 |{{no|1994}} | |
| Bulgy the Whale
|Bulgy the Whale |Skerbeck Family Carnival (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |Sunshine Amusements (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|1988}} |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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/1989/CPSC-Wants-Monster-Ride-Inspected-For-Defects/|title=CPSC Wants "Monster" Ride Inspected For Defects|website=U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission|date=4 July 2016|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/216397078/|title=Paint-covered crack at joint caused fatal rise mishap|date=November 26, 1988|work=News-Press|access-date=November 16, 2019}} | |
| Rock-O-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |Sylvan Beach Amusement Park |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Bomber
|Roll-O-Plane |Sylvan Beach Amusement Park |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Bulgy the Whale
|Bulgy the Whale |Tinkertown Family Fun Park |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Rock-O-Planes
|Rock-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|2019}} | |
| Monster
|Monster |1977 |{{yes|Open}} |Using the former Octopus at Worlds of Fun for spare parts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.valleyfair.com/play/rides/monster|title=Monster {{!}} Valleyfair|website=www.valleyfair.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldsoffun.org/history/defunctattractions.html|title=Worlds of Fun Gone but Not Forgotten|website=www.worldsoffun.org|access-date=2019-11-16}} | |
| Bulgy the Whale
|Bulgy the Whale |Wade Shows (Showman) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Open}} | |
| Octopus
|Octopus |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|Closed}} | | |
| Funnel Web
|Spider |1985 |{{no|1989}} |Removed and placed in storage; current whereabouts unknown. | |
| Octopus
|Monster |1973 |{{no|2014}} |Originally 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. | |
| Guppies
|Bulgy the Whale |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|2006}} | | |
| Barracuda
|Rock-O-Plane |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|1999}} | | |
| Black Squid
|Spider |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{no|2006}} | | |
| Little Racers
|Midge-O-Racer |Playland, Fresno, CA |1955 |{{yes|Open}} |Ride 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-Plane
|Rock-O-Plane |Thomas Amusements (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada) |{{N/A|Unknown}} |{{yes|Seasonal}} | |
Closure
Eyerly Aircraft Company continued to produce amusement rides until 1985.{{cite news |url=http://www.argusobserver.com/news/salem-man-built-carnival-ride-empire/article_50a5e44a-78aa-52fb-92be-b4157b95b39d.html |title=Salem man built carnival ride empire |last=Lynn |first=Capi |newspaper=Argus Observer |date=August 31, 2008 |access-date=June 14, 2017}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Donn |title=Fracture Found in Ride That Killed Broward Teen |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1988-11-25-0080350284-story.html |orig-date=updated July 28, 2021|work=The Orlando Sentinel |date=November 25, 1988}} 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.{{cite web |title=Family of girl killed at youth fair sues for $10 million |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/12/08/Family-of-girl-killed-at-youth-fair-sues-for-10-million/2144597560400/ |publisher=UPI Archives |access-date=April 6, 2020 |date=December 8, 1988}}{{cite news |last1=Banker |first1=Dana |title=U.S. Says Ride Owner Knew of Danger |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1989-05-24-8901270020-story.html |access-date=April 8, 2020 |work=Sun Sentinel |date=May 24, 1989}} 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
{{Portal|Aviation|Companies}}
References
{{Reflist|33em}}
{{Amusement rides}}
Category:Amusement ride manufacturers
Category:Companies based in Salem, Oregon
Category:1930 establishments in Oregon
Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1930
Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in Oregon