Abstract: A man-carrying aerial bucket universally positionable in three planes is mounted on a tripod arrangement comprising three hydraulic cylinders. The upper ends of the cylinder pistons converge toward, and are connected to, a universal vertex connector pin assembly. A lateral arm has one end pivotally connected to the vertex pin assembly and its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertical boom. The basket is pivotally connected to the upper end of the boom and is latched in upright position against swinging on the boom. Solenoid valves, under the manual control of the operator from either the aerial bucket or truck vehicle, control the extension and retraction of the cylinder pistons and hence the position of the vertex pin assembly and the bucket supported thereon. A pair of hydraulic leveling cylinders, controlled automatically by mercury switches, maintain the lateral arm in horizontal position and the latched boom in vertical position irrespective of the angular disposition of the tripod.