XXL Ranger – Jason Hetrus & Lucie Guillonne
The historic HUSS looping swing back on tour
Operator: Jason Hetrus & Lucie Guillonne (France) · since 2022
The XXL Ranger by Jason Hetrus and Lucie Guillonne is a classic looping swing made by Bremen-based manufacturer HUSS. Instead of many small gondolas, it has one large passenger gondola attached to a single arm, carrying visitors through the sky. This unusually clear design is what makes the Ranger unmistakable: a powerful swinging motion builds into complete loops. The French ride is among the early examples of this ride type and, after a lengthy break, is travelling to fairs again.
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What to expect
Highlights & records
A historic first-generation HUSS Ranger; returned to operation in France after being in storage for several years 2023.
One large gondola, a powerful arm and complete loops: the XXL Ranger shows how impressive classic funfair engineering can still be.
What it’s like to ride the XXL Ranger
On the XXL Ranger, passengers sit together in a long row of seats and face the fairground. The arm initially starts moving like a giant swinging ship. With each swing, the view changes: first, the lights of the funfair pass by on either side, then the ground seems to move above your heads. Finally, the entire gondola turns over the highest point. What makes it special is not a series of independent rotating axes, but the direct, impressive motion of one large swing.
The speed and changing orientation make for an intense experience that is quite different from an ordinary family swinging ship. The large loops are integral to the ride itself, not a brief extra effect. Even from the ground, you can see how the gondola changes position between its highest point and the lowest part of its path. The striking structure is easy to spot from a distance.
Video
General
- Manufacturer
- HUSS Maschinenfabrik, Bremen
- Model
- HUSS Ranger
- Year built
- 1980
- Original name
- Ranger
- Also known as
- Ranger
Ride
- Height
- 25 m
- Max. g-force
- 4 G
Vehicles & capacity
- Gondolas
- 1
- Riders per gondola
- 32
Set-up & transport
- Footprint
- 20 × 15 m
History of the looping swing and its operators
The ride was built around 1980 as one of the first HUSS Rangers and initially travelled under the name Ranger. After an early period with a Swiss showman, it moved to France. There, it was operated for many years first by Chira and later by Vasseur. The change of operators explains why older photos and reports show different names on the same ride.
After several years off the travelling circuit, Jason Hetrus and Lucie Guillonne took over the swing in 2022. They had this classic ride refurbished and brought it back to French funfair grounds in 2023. Documented stops on its return include Arras and Valenciennes. The XXL Ranger was later seen again at the Foire aux Manèges in Lille. This gave a historically significant ride a new chapter in its travelling history, rather than leaving it as merely a reminder of the early years of looping swings.
Timeline
Previously travelled as Ranger. Taken over and restored by Jason Hetrus and Lucie Guillonne after several years in storage 2022; back at French funfairs since 2023.
- Operator
- Jason Hetrus & Lucie Guillonne (France)
- With operator since
- 2022
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
Previous operators
1980–1983: Stammler (Switzerland); 1983–2009: Chira (France); 2009–2022: Vasseur (France)
Who is the XXL Ranger for?
The XXL Ranger is mainly for visitors who enjoy full loops and powerful swinging motions. If you have so far avoided rides with complete rotations, you should know that this movement is part of the entire ride experience. The ride is not designed for a gentle sightseeing trip. If you are interested in classic high rides, the combination of relatively simple mechanics and spectacular movement is particularly appealing.
Even without getting on, you can appreciate the impact of the XXL Ranger. The arm’s open silhouette makes it easy to see from outside how far the gondola moves from its starting position. After dark, the illuminated structure creates a striking sight above the fairground. You can find more classic and modern rides in our attractions overview.
Upcoming funfair dates
