Aerial ladder system with powered rungs

A ladder that is extensible, vehicle mounted and used to aid in raising and lowering in rescue operations, the ladder comprising:

• a rotatable base configured to define storage space within;
• a plurality of ladder units comprising at least a first ladder unit and a second ladder unit, configured to be nested together, the plurality of ladder units comprising a first ladder unit attached to the rotatable base and a second ladder unit nested within the first ladder unit, each ladder unit in the plurality of ladder units comprising four C-rails such that when the second ladder unit is nested within the first ladder unit, one of the four C-rails of the first ladder unit contains one of the C-rails for the second ladder unit;
• and,
• wherein the ladder units are adapted to be extensible from the rotatable base along a longitudinal axis to a top end;
• rungs, each rung comprising two ends, each end attached to rung mounts, each of the rung mounts slidably and directly engaging one of the C-rails of the first ladder unit and one of the C-rails of the second ladder unit when the first ladder unit and the second ladder unit are nested together;
• and,
• a drive cable connecting the rungs in a closed loop and powered to:
• rotate the rungs around the ladder units within the C-rails;
• and,
• extend and retract the rungs from the storage space with movement of the ladder units along the longitudinal axis.