Abstract: A suspension and control head apparatus for an aerial firefighting bucket comprising: a rigid frame member having an upper cargo attachment portion that is removably connectable to a cargo hook of a hover capable aircraft, the frame member including lower spaced apart cable attachment portions that are removably connectable to support cables that support the bucket; the frame member defining bilateral opposite sides, one side being a solenoid side and the opposite side being a reel side; a solenoid mounted on the solenoid side, the solenoid being coupled to an electrical source and a switch that energizes and deenergizes the solenoid; a spring-loaded reel rotatably mounted on the reel side, the reel having wound thereon a cable when the reel is in a relaxed or nearly relaxed state, the cable having a stop member, wherein the solenoid and the reel are adjacent to each other on the opposite sides; a latch that interferes with the stop member when the latch is in a latched position and the latch being moveable t

Abstract: A suspension and control head apparatus for an aerial firefighting bucket that is suspendable from an aircraft and operable to release fluid by a movable valve, the apparatus comprising an elongate rigid spreader having attachment portions at opposite ends of the spreader member; a housing connected to the spreader member between the attachment portions; a remotely controllable actuator within the housing operable to advance and retract a valve control line connected to the movable valve on the bucket to open and close the valve; a cargo ring adapted to connecting to a cargo hook on the aircraft; suspension lines connected between each attachment portion and the cargo ring; and the ends of the spreader bar being operable to connect to bucket support lines for suspending the weight of the firefighting bucket evenly between the ends.

Abstract: A recreation device, used for sliding downhill on a surface, on which the rider is suspended above the surface, either in a generally horizontal position—face up or face down—or in a reclined position, thereby providing the rider with a unique experience or sensation. The winter recreation device comprises a slide member having a top and a low friction bottom adapted for sliding on the surface, a support connected to the top of the slide member and extending upward away from the slide member, and a harness suspended from the support, wherein the support and harness are adapted to suspend a user of the apparatus above the surface.

Abstract: A recreation device, used for sliding downhill on a surface, on which the rider is suspended above the surface, either in a generally horizontal position—face up or face down—or in a reclined position, thereby providing the rider with a unique experience or sensation. The winter recreation device comprises a slide member having a top and a low friction bottom adapted for sliding on the surface, a support connected to the top of the slide member and extending upward away from the slide member, and a harness suspended from the support, wherein the support and harness are adapted to suspend a user of the apparatus above the surface.