Flying theatre

An amusement ride assembly comprising:

• a motion base comprising:
• a stationary support structure having a first end and a second end, the first end engaging a support surface and the second end having first pivot means;
• a pivot structure comprising;
• second pivot means rotatably engageable with the first pivot means about a pivot axis located adjacent the center of gravity of the pivot structure;
• a platform having a transverse axis, the platform oriented in a first plane and supported by the second pivot means and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the platform slidably engaged with the second pivot means such that the platform is translatable linearly along a longitudinally extending heave axis, the heave axis aligned orthogonally to the transverse axis and aligned coplanarly with the first plane, the platform comprising:
• at least two seats arranged longitudinally along the platform, each of the at least two seats having an upper first end and a lower second end, each of the at least two seats having seat pivot means;
• at least one seat frame bracket attached to the upper surface of the platform and rotatably engaging the seat pivot means of each of the at least two seats about a seat pitch axis of each of the at least two seats;
• at least one canopy transversely extending across the platform and oriented between the at least two seats;
• a seat drive member;
• at least one seat actuating member engaging each of the at least two seats longitudinally at a position adjacent the centre of gravity of each of the at least two seats, the at least one seat actuating member operably connected to the seat drive member such that pitch of each of the at least two seats is rotatable about the seat pitch axis when the seat drive member engages the seat actuating member;
• and
• at least one actuator and at least one counterbalancing member coupling the platform to the pivot structure, the at least one actuator and the at least one counterbalancing member generating a force opposite to the force generated by rotation of the pivot structure;
• and,
• a drive for rotating the pivot structure about the pivot axis to move the platform from a generally horizontal first position to a generally vertical second position.