Vertigo has opened in Tivoli

In its quest for continually reaching new heights, Copenhagen's popular amusement park Tivoli has opened Northern Europe's wildest and fastest interactive ride - a flight simulator, in which you are the pilot. Join us on our first flight in Vertigo.

Prepare for take off. I am completely restrained to my seat. The standard over my shoulder harness is closed and locked in place. In front of me is a joystick and a lot of buttons - almost like in a real cockpit. One says switch, one says turbo, and I am not quite sure about the other ones. But the function of the turbo button is clear. And yet. Those who were up before us, had a hard time speeding up the aircraft. They spun around and hung upside down until they found out how to fly such a thing.

100 kilometers per hour

Tivoli's new ride is the closest you can get to sitting in an airplane without actually sitting in an airplane. With a speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour, a wing rotation at 15 times per minute and 360-degree turns, you are the pilot in a flight simulator, which is the fastest and wildest interactive ride in Northern Europe.

"If you press the turbo button and move the joystick forward for at least 20 seconds, then the speed comes up to 100 kilometers per hour," says the Tivoli employee, who has detained me and my three co-passengers to this insane piece of amusement.

But Vertigo must go fast. So we hit the turbo bottom and push the joystick forward. We are ready for take off.

Nausea, adrenaline and 5,2 G

Scream! Vertigo takes off. We fly out over the Tivoli Lake and reach a height of 40 meters. We are upside down and watching Copenhagen from a whole different - and rather nausea-inducing - angle. Tivoli's new propeller plane speeds up, the adrenaline is pumping through my body. I can feel the 5,2 G, which makes my blood go into my feet. My eyesight is affected. We are all screaming out loud: Aaaaaarghhhh!

The flight lasts for two minutes and each pilot has the command of the aircraft for one minute. When Vertigo has landed safely, we stagger out on solid ground. Vertigo lives up to its name. Our hair is all messed up, and my stomach thanks me for not having had lunch yet. But what a ride!

Vertigo opened in Tivoli Gardens on 1 May 2009. You can book a trip in advance at Tivoli's website below or just show up and get in line. Vertigo can take approximately 125 guests per hour. Vertigo is Tivoli's 26th amusement.

Watch the ride in Vertigo

Tivoli