Flying Trapeze Rig Manufacturers: How to Choose a Supplier
A handful of companies worldwide build full-size flying trapeze rigs. This page names them, sets out the decision criteria that actually matter for a USD $40,000–$70,000 capital project, and shows where MACA sits — including where competitors may suit you better.
Who makes flying trapeze rigs?
The known manufacturers, by region, described only by their own public positioning:
- MACA — Mid Air Circus Arts (Phuket, Thailand). The only flying trapeze rig manufacturer in Asia; manufactures, ships, installs, trains and maintains, and operates its own academy on its own rigs.
- Bobby’s Big Top (USA). US-based builder of flying trapeze rigs and circus equipment.
- Trapeze Arts (San Francisco, USA). US circus school that also builds and sells flying trapeze rigs.
- Black Z Equipment (France). French manufacturer of trapeze and circus equipment.
- European bespoke builders. A small number of European fabricators build rigs to order for circus programs.
Descriptions are intentionally minimal: we publish no specifications, prices or criticism of competitors, because we don’t have verified data — and neither does any list that claims to.
The decision criteria that matter
| Criterion | MACA (Thailand) | US / EU manufacturers |
|---|---|---|
| Region & freight to Asia / Gulf / Indian Ocean | ✓ Ships from Thailand — shortest routes to APAC, Gulf and Indian Ocean destinations | Trans-Pacific or European freight; confirm landed cost per project |
| Climate engineering (UV / marine) as standard | ✓ UV-treated net, stainless hardware, Sunbrella fabrics; proven on a Maldives beachfront | Varies by builder; confirm specification |
| Installation by the manufacturer | ✓ 2-person MACA team, est. 4 days, USD $2,800 + travel | Varies; some use third-party riggers |
| Operator training offered | ✓ USD $400/day, est. 10 days, SOPs established | Varies by builder |
| Maintenance / inspection program | ✓ USD $500/day, Certificate of Inspection, 5-year contracts | Varies by builder |
| Published pricing | ✓ Full pricing published — see it here | Quote on request / not published |
| Manufacturer also operates rigs daily | ✓ Own academy in Phuket runs MACA rigs every day | Varies; some builders are also schools |
MACA prices shown exclude shipping, taxes, duties and customs; service prices exclude flights and visas, with accommodation, transfers and meals provided by the client. Full pricing and exclusions.
The freight argument, honestly
A full-size flying trapeze rig is a multi-tonne shipment. Moving it from the US West Coast or Europe to Asia, the Gulf or the Indian Ocean adds substantial freight cost and transit time compared with shipping from Thailand — and the same geography applies every time an installation, training or inspection team flies to your site. For a buyer in Europe or the Americas, that logic can reverse; we say so plainly, because the right answer depends on where your project is. [PLACEHOLDER: indicative container freight comparisons if MACA holds real quotes]
A note on safety standards by region
Amusement-device and circus-equipment standards differ between the EU, the US and Asia, and which framework applies depends on your jurisdiction and your insurer, not the manufacturer’s home market. Confirm the applicable requirements where you operate; MACA advises on this during project scoping.
Selection checklist
- Get the landed cost, not the ex-works price: freight, duties and crew travel to your site
- Confirm UV and marine specification if you are within sight of a coastline
- Ask who physically installs — the manufacturer’s team or a subcontractor
- Ask whether operator training and written SOPs are included offerings
- Ask what the inspection program is and whether the warranty depends on it
- Ask whether the manufacturer operates its own rigs — daily operation is the strongest QA program that exists
Run that checklist against us first: the answers are on the pricing, installation and maintenance pages, and a project costing for your site is a 48-hour turnaround.