An airplane mainly extending along an axis between a nose group and a tail group is provided. The airplane has a fuselage extending axially between the nose group and the tail group and having a fuselage wall internally defining a fuselage housing, wings extending transversely to the axis from the fuselage, and at least one passenger pod having a pod wall defining a pressurized passenger housing in which passengers are accommodable. The at least one passenger pod is removably housable in the fuselage housing. The airplane is configurable in an operating configuration, suitable for allowing flight of the airplane, in which the at least one passenger pod is housed in the fuselage housing and an emergency configuration, in which, with the airplane in flight, the at least one passenger pod is ejected from the fuselage housing.

An airplane mainly extending along an axis between a nose group and a tail group is provided. The airplane has a fuselage extending axially between the nose group and the tail group and having a fuselage wall internally defining a fuselage housing, wings extending transversely to the axis from the fuselage, and at least one passenger pod having a pod wall defining a pressurized passenger housing in which passengers are accommodable. The at least one passenger pod is removably housable in the fuselage housing. The airplane is configurable in an operating configuration, suitable for allowing flight of the airplane, in which the at least one passenger pod is housed in the fuselage housing and an emergency configuration, in which, with the airplane in flight, the at least one passenger pod is ejected from the fuselage housing.

An aircraft having a hatch and a fall-protection device includes a structure comprising a roof pierced with an opening, a cover plate, and a lock provided to adopt a locking position, in which the lock holds the cover plate in the closed position in the opening, or, alternatively, an unlocked position, in which the lock does not hold the cover plate. The aircraft further comprises at least one fall-protection device provided so that, when the lock moves into the unlocked position, it is in a first position to allow movement of the cover plate under the influence of gravity from its closed position to an intermediate position, in which the cover plate is suspended from the structure and then moves from the first position into a second position, during which movement the cover plate moves from the intermediate position into an open position, no longer attached to the structure.

An aircraft having a hatch and a fall-protection device includes a structure comprising a roof pierced with an opening, a cover plate, and a lock provided to adopt a locking position, in which the lock holds the cover plate in the closed position in the opening, or, alternatively, an unlocked position, in which the lock does not hold the cover plate. The aircraft further comprises at least one fall-protection device provided so that, when the lock moves into the unlocked position, it is in a first position to allow movement of the cover plate under the influence of gravity from its closed position to an intermediate position, in which the cover plate is suspended from the structure and then moves from the first position into a second position, during which movement the cover plate moves from the intermediate position into an open position, no longer attached to the structure.

An emergency escape window for a rotorcraft includes a window frame, a window pane set inside the window frame, a plurality of pins connecting the window frame to the fuselage of the rotorcraft, and a release mechanism having at least one actuator connected to a respective pin and constructed to retract the pin from the window frame. The escape window can then be pivoted away and/or completely detached from the fuselage in the event of an emergency to allow occupants to safely exit the rotorcraft. The disclosure also relate to a method of operating an emergency escape window for a rotorcraft and to a rotorcraft having an emergency escape window.

An emergency escape window for a rotorcraft includes a window frame, a window pane set inside the window frame, a plurality of pins connecting the window frame to the fuselage of the rotorcraft, and a release mechanism having at least one actuator connected to a respective pin and constructed to retract the pin from the window frame. The escape window can then be pivoted away and/or completely detached from the fuselage in the event of an emergency to allow occupants to safely exit the rotorcraft. The disclosure also relate to a method of operating an emergency escape window for a rotorcraft and to a rotorcraft having an emergency escape window.

A window with an emergency exit function for a helicopter is described that comprises: a frame shaped as a framework that can be coupled to a door of said helicopter provided with an opening; and a transparent element designed to engage the opening and held in position by the frame; the frame comprises a first side arranged abutting against the transparent element when a first force below a threshold value is exerted on the latter in a direction transversal to a first plane of a main portion of the transparent element, and which can be elastically moved away from the transparent element when the first force exerted on the latter exceeds the threshold value; and a second side having greater flexural rigidity than the first side in a second plane transversal to first plane and arranged abutting against the transparent element even when the force is greater than said threshold value.

A window with an emergency exit function for a helicopter is described that comprises: a frame shaped as a framework that can be coupled to a door of said helicopter provided with an opening; and a transparent element designed to engage the opening and held in position by the frame; the frame comprises a first side arranged abutting against the transparent element when a first force below a threshold value is exerted on the latter in a direction transversal to a first plane of a main portion of the transparent element, and which can be elastically moved away from the transparent element when the first force exerted on the latter exceeds the threshold value; and a second side having greater flexural rigidity than the first side in a second plane transversal to first plane and arranged abutting against the transparent element even when the force is greater than said threshold value.

Pyrotechnic devices and firing mechanisms for aircraft canopy jettison are disclosed herein. An example firing mechanism includes a housing defining a first bore, a second bore, and a channel between the first bore and the second bore, a primary charge disposed in the second bore, a closure disc between the second bore and the channel, and a firing pin assembly disposed in the first bore. The firing pin assembly includes a percussion primer and a firing pin piston including a piston body, a firing pin extending from the piston body, and a piercing pin extending from the piston body. In response to a firing signal, the firing pin piston is moved toward the primary charge such that the piercing pin punctures the closure disc and the firing pin engages the percussion primer to ignite the primary charge.

Pyrotechnic devices and firing mechanisms for aircraft canopy jettison are disclosed herein. An example firing mechanism includes a housing defining a first bore, a second bore, and a channel between the first bore and the second bore, a primary charge disposed in the second bore, a closure disc between the second bore and the channel, and a firing pin assembly disposed in the first bore. The firing pin assembly includes a percussion primer and a firing pin piston including a piston body, a firing pin extending from the piston body, and a piercing pin extending from the piston body. In response to a firing signal, the firing pin piston is moved toward the primary charge such that the piercing pin punctures the closure disc and the firing pin engages the percussion primer to ignite the primary charge.