Abstract: Actuating mechanisms (106 and 122) for latching and unlatching an aircraft plug-type door (50) which is laterally and vertically translatable along tracks (55, 56 and 60) for movement into and out of an ingress/egress door opening (51) formed in the aircraft fuselage (52) and vertically along a path following the interior contour of the fuselage (52). The interior actuating mechanism (106) includes an interior door handle (99) mounted in the fuselage (52) adjacent the ingress/egress opening (51) and swingable between first and second positions, with the interior door handle (99) being operably associated with locking means (119, 120) for locking the door (50) upon closure thereof and for unlocking the door (50) preparatory to opening thereof.

Abstract: An escape slide container is mounted for selective, upward movement with a track-mounted, overhead sliding door in an aircraft fuselage. Slide deployment mechanism for releasing the container from the door and for attaching it to the floor of the aircraft allows the door to move upwardly independently of the container, leaving the container attached to the floor. An over-center linkage supports the container above the floor while upward movement of the door trips the over-center linkage to propel the container outwardly through the door opening to deploy the escape slide under the urging of gravity. Apparatus for arming and disarming the slide for deployment operates in conjunction with door opening and closing apparatus that simultaneously effects movement of a door carrier to unplug the aircraft door from the opening in the fuselage and initiates upward traverse of the door along a plurality of tracks from which the door is supported at three points.