Hangar51

Founded By: Dave Morris

Originated: March 2000

Personnel of Note:
Dave Morris – President and Owner

First Facility: Fundays Playbarn at Bourton-on-the-water, Gloucester, UK. Opened on January 4, 2007.

Equipment Overview: Originally started as a mobile laser tag manufacturer, Hangar 51 offered a vestless laser tag option they called “Laser Storm” (unrelated to the manufacturer known as Laser Storm) and offered inflatable arenas with about 1000 square feet of playing space within an approximately 45×55 foot arena design, with the option of adding an inflatable, 25 foot “alien”. The tri-colored phaser equipment could be fitted with an adjustable shoulder strap instead of a larger harness, as they believed harness styling would be too large for players of smaller stature.

These phasers without packs also included built in sensors and LEDs and could show real-time score updates. The system did not require a computer, but did offer a mobile score print-out and full hit confirmation was connected to the scoring.

Historical Synopsis: According to the company’s website: In 1997 “Momentum Ltd started its own development of a Mobile Laser Tag system which was released in 2000 under the brand name Hangar51. The huge success and reliability of the Hangar51 mobile system resulted in the development of the Laser Storm system which was released in 2002. It allowed the (phasers) to be used in indoor arenas, outdoors and adventure play centres – in fact almost anywhere. The development of the Laser Storm system is ongoing as new applications are found. In 2005, development was started on an outdoor laser skirmish system. This system was named Battle Storm and released in early 2007.” Hangar51 is designed and manufactured by Momentum, Ltd based in West Midlands, UK.