Towplate system

In a towplate system for use in an aircraft cargo extraction system wherein a drogue parachute is first released and acts to deploy a main parachute of the cargo extraction system, said towplate system including a two-part force transfer link assembly having a first link member connected to the drogue parachute and a second line member connected to the main parachute, means for releasibly coupling said first link member to the second link member, a link release mechanism secured to said aircraft and being actuatable for holding and releasing said link assembly, means responsive to an electrical command input for electrically actuating said link release mechanism to release said two-part link assembly from said link release mechanism, means for mechanically actuating said link release mechanism to release said two-part link assembly from said link release mechanism, said link release mechanism accordingly releasing said two-part link assembly when actuated by either of said electrical or mechanical actuating means and thereby allowing said drogue parachute to extract said two-part link assembly and said main parachute therewith, and means for mechanically actuating said coupling means for releasing the first link member from the second link member to thereby jettison the drogue parachute, the improvement which comprises:

• a control assembly common to both said means for mechanically actuating said link release mechanism and said means for mechanically actuating said coupling means, said control assembly being movable in a first direction for actuating said link release mechanism and in a second direction for actuating said coupling means, said control assembly being capable of movement in only one of said first and second directions at a time.