Abstract: A stores handling system for an aircraft having a fuselage including a chamber for enclosing the stores handling system proximate an area openable through said fuselage through which stores may be loaded into and ejected from the aircraft. The handling system comprises a magazine arranged substantially vertically within the chamber for storing and positioning ejectable stores and including a flexible drive having stores holding shoes spaced apart thereon for engaging and retaining stores against movement within the aircraft, and for lifting and/or lowering stores within the magazine; and a launching mechanism for receiving stores individually from said magazine drive, and including an actuator having hands pivotable between a first closed position and a second open position for engaging the lowermost store to preclude ejecting movement when said hands are in said first position, and for engaging said stores to eject same from the aircraft when said hands are in said second position.