Photos: Evelyn Weingardt The Singapore Flyer, the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, towers 540 feet above its surroundings. It uses the tension-spoke concept first introduced in america at the 1893 chicago World’s Fair by U.S. structural engineer George W.G. Ferris, the father of large observation wheels. His 265-foot-tall Ferris Wheel was the first moving structure of its kind to use tension-wheel design on a grand scale. The Flyer’s cabins (or capsules) are mounted outside of the wheel’s rim to allow unobstructed views. They are attached using a pipe framework bolted to the rim and to rings holding the cabins at two locations. The arrangement allows the cabin to rotate, always keeping the floor horizontal as the wheel proper turns on its axis. Interior view of a singapore Flyer cabin reveals its straightforward barrel shape and austere finishes. It features large picture windows on each end and both sides that allow passengers to enjoy unlimited views.

A memorable event of a recent “around-the-world” trip my wife and I took (in celebration of our 50th anniversary) was riding the tallest Ferris wheel ever built, the Singapore Flyer. At a height of 540 feet — approximately 100 feet taller than the popular London Eye wheel in England — the giant Singapore Flyer can be seen for miles around, a beacon towering over this immense city. Comprised of a 492-foot-diameter wheel on top of a three-story terminal building, the rotating structure has become integrated as a signature landmark of Singapore’s Marina Bay area.

With great pride, local citizens refer to the Flyer as an engineering marvel — the “eighth wonder of the world.” Ask people in metro Singapore where the wheel is and how to get to it, and you’ll get ready directions and a sense of their deep personal feeling of ownership. They frequently gush, “Everyone should ride our giant wheel; it’s a not-to-be-missed experience that provides fabulous panoramas of our international and ultra-modern city. The sights you can see from it are unbelievable.” It’s true. My wife and I agreed that the views from the wheel are unparalleled. In addition to unobstructed scenes of the back streets of Singapore, we saw places 30 miles distant that span into Indonesia and Malaysia, and across the South China Sea.

That a single structure like the Flyer (or the London Eye) can create such feelings of individual admiration, respect, and endorsement confirms the far-reaching importance of the work of structural engineers. Few cities around the world are without manmade icons, and many of them, like the Seven Wonders of the World, are major structural achievements. Modern-day examples include the Golden Gate Bridge, St. Louis Arch, Empire State Building, Sidney Opera House, and Eiffel Tower, to name a few. We structural engineers should take pride in being members of such a noble and vital profession.

The wide array of structures that structural engineers design and build — whether spectacular or ordinary in nature — affect the commerce and personal lives of billions of people. Yet, along with the pride we engineers take in our accomplishments must go the need to share the benefits of our talents and profession with the public, especially America’s youth, who are looking for career choices. Every day gives us new opportunity to step forward and be heard. Sound structural engineering is too vital to be neglected.

Richard G. Weingardt, P.E., is CEO and chairman of Richard Weingardt Consultants, Inc., a Denver-based structural engineering firm. He can be reached via e-mail at rweingardt@gostructural.com.