Our Ferris wheel has the radius of 18/2 = 9 meters and the lowest position at the height of 1 meter over the ground.


Let's consider this Ferris wheel as rotated anti-clockwise.



So, it rotates from position 6 pm (the hour hand) anti-clockwise to the position 3 pm by 90 degrees,

reaching the height of 10 meters above the ground, and then rotates for some additional angle "a"

anti-clockwise, such that the height is 15-10 = 5 meters above the level of the center, which is 10 meters above the ground.



This angle "a" satisfies equation  sin(a) =  = 0.555556,  so  a = arcsin(0.555556) = 33.75 degrees.


Thus the wheel turns/rotates the angle  90 + 33.75 degrees = 123.75 degrees, total.


The angular velocity of the wheel is 360 degrees in 5 seconds, or   = 72 degrees per second.


So, it will take   = 1.72 seconds for the rider to get the height of 15 meters above the ground,
starting from the lowest position.


ANSWER.  1.72 seconds, approximately.