Singapore Flyer
2669944
225362289
2008-07-13T08:14:45Z
222.164.139.9
/* See also */
{{coord|1|17|21.83|N|103|51|47.63|E|display=title|region:SG_type:landmark}}
{{Infobox Skyscraper
|building_name = Singapore Flyer
|image = [[Image:Singapore_Flyer_2.JPG|250px]]
|caption = A photo of the Singapore Flyer and terminal building
|year_highest =
|year_end =
|plural =
|location = [[Singapore]]
|groundbreaking = [[September 25]] [[2005]]
|constructed = [[2005]]-[[2008]]
|completion = [[March 1]] [[2008]]
|opening = [[11 February]] [[2008]] (limited spaces)<br>[[1 March]] [[2008]] (operational)<br>[[15 April]] [[2008]] (official)
|demolished =
|destroyed =
|use = Observation wheel
|antenna_spire =
|roof = {{convert|165|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|top_floor =
|floor_count =
|elevator_count =
|cost = [[S$]]240 million ([[US$]]180 million) ([[GBP£]]90 million)
|floor_area = {{convert|33700|m2|sqft|-2|abbr=on}}
|architect = Kisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates, DP Architects
|engineer = Arup
|contractor = Mitsubishi - Takenaka Consortium
|developer = Melchers Project Management
|owner = Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd
}}
The '''Singapore Flyer''' ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 新加坡摩天观景轮 [[Tamil language|Tamil]]:சிங்கப்பூர் ஃப்ளையர் [[Malay language|Malay]]: Singapura <<''fill in''>>) is a giant [[observation wheel]] in [[Singapore]]. The final capsule was installed on [[2 October]] [[2007]], the observation wheel started rotating on [[February 11]] [[2008]] and it officially opened to the public on [[March 1]] [[2008]]. Tickets for rides on the first 3 nights were sold out for S$ 8,888 Singapore dollars (US$6,271)(£3,150.83GBP), an auspicious number in Chinese culture.<ref>[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080210-117956/Worlds-biggest-observation-wheel-set-to-spin-in-Singapore Inquirer.net, World's biggest observation wheel set to spin in Singapore]</ref> The grand opening for the Flyer was held on [[15 April]] [[2008]].<ref> {{cite news | title = PM Lee officially opens Singapore Flyer| publisher = Channel NewsAsia | date = 15 April 2008 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/341644/1/.html }} </ref>
Reaching 42 stories high, the Flyer comprises a {{convert|150|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} diameter wheel, built over a three-story terminal building, giving it a total height of {{convert|165|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. This exceeds [[The Star of Nanchang]] by {{convert|5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and the [[London Eye]] by {{convert|30|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. Each of the 28 air-conditioned capsules are capable of holding 28 passengers each, and a complete rotation of the wheel takes approximately 30 minutes.
Located on the southeast tip of the [[Marina Centre]] [[reclaimed land]], it offers broad views of the city centre and beyond to about {{convert|45|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}, including the [[Indonesia]]n islands of [[Batam]] and [[Bintan]], as well as [[Johor]], [[Malaysia]].
==History==
The Singapore Flyer was first conceived in the early 2000s, before formal planning commenced in 2002. German company [[Melchers Project Management]] (MPM) and [[Orient & Pacific Management]] (O&P) formed a new company, [[Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd]], as the developer with MPM holding a 75% stake and the rest by O&P. The project was formally announced and endorsed by the [[Singapore Tourism Board]] (STB) with the signing of a [[Memorandum of Understanding]] on [[27 June]] [[2003]], formalising the understanding between the developer and STB with regard to the land-acquisition process. As stipulated in the MOU, the STB will purchase the plot of land in Marina Centre from the [[Singapore Land Authority]], and lease it to Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd for 30 years with an option to extend the lease by another 15 years. In addition, the land will be rent-free during the construction phase of the project. In July [[2003]], [[Jones Lang LaSalle]] was appointed as the [[real estate advisor]]. [[Takenaka Corporation|Takenaka]] and [[Mitsubishi]] were selected as the main contractors, and [[Arup]] as the [[structural engineer]].
Early designs showed a {{convert|169|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high wheel similar to the [[London Eye]], drawing criticisms that it lacked originality. The developers promptly pointed out however, that the design was not finalised, and they were merely for conceptualisation purposes. The project was to grind almost to a halt subsequently when the developers faced difficulties in sourcing for funds to build the wheel. Original plans to complete the wheel by the end of 2005 were thus postponed indefinitely, and there were reports (but denied by the STB) that the tourism board has set an ultimatum date on [[31 March]] [[2005]] for the developer to iron out its financial issues and to keep the development going.
By September 2005, the project was revived when funds were successfully sourced from two German banks. [[Delbrueck Bethmann Maffei]], a subsidiary of [[ABN AMRO]], will provide equity to a maximum of S$100 million, with a further S$140 million coming from [[Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank]]. With the injection of S$240 million, the largest single foreign investment in the Singaporean entertainment industry, the wheel was slated to begin construction by the end of the month.
[[Image:singaporeflyer1.jpg|thumb|right|340px|The Singapore Flyer looming at dusk]]
==Design==
The development has a gross building area of approximately {{convert|16000|m2|sqft|-3|abbr=on}}, built on a {{convert|33700|m2|sqft|-2|abbr=on}} site along the Marina Promenade. Designed by Arup and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the wheel features 28 air-conditioned capsules, each with a floor area of {{convert|26|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on}} and capable of holding 28 passengers each [http://www.am.joneslanglasalle.com/News/News%20Release%20Eflyer/2003/07jul/SGFlyer.jpg (graphic)]. The capsules, like those of the London Eye, are exo-capsules which are attached outward of the wheel structure. This is opposed to the usual endo-capsules, such as those of The Star of Nanchang. Exo-capsules offer the advantage of an unobstructed view when the capsule is at the peak. The constant rotation of the wheel of the Singapore Flyer means that a complete trip lasts approximately 30 minutes, and has a design capacity of up to 7.3 million passengers a year.
The terminal building on which the wheel sits on comprises three floors of commercial space, with an adjacent open air Greek-inspired [[theatre]] along the waterfront and complimented by a [[jetty]]. The site is beautified by luxurious landscaping, including roof gardens and a recreated rainforest in the terminal's atrium. An open bus park for 40 buses is located behind the building, and connected by an underpass to a covered multi-storey carpark for 300 vehicles. This carpark in turn has direct links to the underground [[Promenade MRT Station]] which is slated to be opened by 2010.
Visitors can take a free shuttle bus which operates on a half-hour basis to and from the Singapore Flyer to the [[City Hall MRT Station]] everyday.
==Expectations==
The attraction is expected to draw about 2.5 million visitors in its first year of operation, which will give its investors a net yield of about 13.4%. About 50% of its visitors are expected to be foreign tourists, helping to generate about S$94 million in tourism receipts in its opening year. The expected visitorship figure was deemed ambitious by some however, but the STB and the wheel's investors are upbeat over its long-term prospects.
[[Adval]] Brand Group, its master ticketing distributor, has guaranteed a minimum of 8 million [[euro]]s in ticket receipts per year for its investors, which was based on an annual visitorship of 600,000.
The Flyer started operations on [[March 1]] [[2008]],<ref> {{cite news | title = Singapore Flyer opens to the public from Saturday | publisher = Channel NewsAsia | date = 1 March 2008 | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/332172/1/.html }} </ref> and had a soft launch for limited spaces from [[February 11]] [[2008]] onwards.
==Competition==
Although the developers constantly drum on its height as a major selling point, the wheel has seen several contenders threatening to exceed it in scale.
*[[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[USA]], plans to build an over {{convert|600|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} [http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/voyager.htm Voyager wheel], although this has been significantly delayed or might be cancelled.
*The [[Beijing Great Wheel]] is a proposed Ferris wheel for [[Beijing]], [[China]]. It is planned to stand at {{convert|208|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and will carry up to 1,920 passengers. This will make it the largest Ferris wheel in the world, higher than the Star of Nanchang, the Singapore Flyer, or the London Eye. It is estimated to be completed in 2009.
*The originally planned [[Shanghai]] Star ({{convert|200|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}) with its completion targeted for 2007 has also been scrapped.<ref>[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/IF13Cb02.html atimes.com]</ref>
*The [[Great Berlin Wheel]] is a proposed {{convert|185|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} Observation wheel to be located near the [[Zoologischer Garten Berlin]] in [[Berlin]], [[Germany]].
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Flyer_Image_25.JPG|From Atop the Singapore Flyer at night
Image:Marina Bay Floating Platform, May 07.jpg|From Across CBD in May 2007
Image:DSC_3186.JPG|Singapore Flyer on 01 July 2007
Image:Singapore Flyer, Jul 07.JPG|Picture taken on 14 July 2007 from Raffles Ave
Image:Sflyer-18aug07.JPG|Singapore Flyer from [[Marina Bay Floating Stadium]] on 18 Aug 2007
Image:singapore flyer capsule inside.JPG|Inside one of the capsules
Image:singapore flyer view1.JPG|A view from the capsule
Image:Singapore_flyer_view_2.jpg|Another view from the capsule
Image:singapore flyer capsule cu.JPG|Closeup of the capsule
Image:Flyer_pillar_base_1090.JPG|Pillar base
Image:Flyer_pillar_base_1091.JPG|Pillar base side view
Image:Flyer_Booth_1010.JPG|One of the booths installed on the ground for display only.
Image:Sg-flyer-4oct07.jpg|A photo of the Singapore Flyer taken from [[East Coast Parkway]]
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[DHL Balloon]]
* [[Ferris wheel]]
** [[Observation wheel]]
*** [[London Eye]]
*** [[Star of Nanchang]]
* [[Future developments in Singapore]]
* [[List of tallest buildings and structures in the world]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|Singapore Flyer}}
* [http://www.singaporeflyer.com.sg/ Official website]
* [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20070831/tap-biggest-wheel-set-to-turn-in-singapo-231650b.html Biggest wheel set to turn in Singapore]
* [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20070803/tap-singapore-flyer-may-open-to-public-e-231650b.html Singapore Flyer may open to public earlier than scheduled]
* [http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070409/5/singapore269316.html Singapore Flyer on track for completion by early 2008]
* [http://apps.facebook.com/weareflyers Interactive Singapore Flyer on Facebook]
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{{succession box|title=World's tallest Ferris Wheel|before=[[Star of Nanchang]]|after=incumbent|years=2008-}}
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[[Category:Downtown Core]]
[[Category:Marina Centre]]
[[Category:Ferris wheels]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Singapore]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Singapore]]
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