Abstract: An emergency exit system for use on a helicopter or other aircraft includes a frame (4) defining an opening (6) for receiving a panel (8) to close the opening (6); a plurality of latches (10, 117) for releasably securing the panel (8) in the opening (6); a plurality of release mechanisms (12); a cable (45, 118) extending around at least a major portion of the frame (4) for releasing the panel (8); and a plurality of actuators (14) strategically located around the opening and connected to the cable (45, 118), whereby actuation of any one of the actuators (14) causes simultaneous release of all of the latches (10, 117) so that the panel (8) can be jettisoned.

Abstract: An emergency exit system for use primarily in a helicopter or other aircraft includes a panel closing an opening in the fuselage of the aircraft, a plurality of latches for releasably securing the panel in the opening; a release mechanism including slides on each side of the opening for retracting the latches to release the panel; a drive for operating the slides, a drive latch for releasably locking the drive in a cocked condition; and a plurality of principal grab bars strategically located in recesses adjacent to the opening and connected to the drive by cables, whereby actuation of any one of the grab bars causes simultaneous release of all of the latches so that the panel can be jettisoned.

Abstract: Improved ice penetrator apparatus includes protective apparatus for the thermochemical ice penetrator to prevent an undesired explosive sound producing chemical reaction between water and the material of said ice penetrator, particularly while the penetrator is resident in a buoy tube prior to release. The protective apparatus at least partially covers the thermochemical ice penetrator and forms a unitary assembly therewith. The characteristic of the protective material is such that it is non-reactive to the ice penetrator material, typically lithium and/or a sodium lithium alloy, and to water. The protective apparatus may assume any of a diving bell, clam shell and banana skin structural form.