Quick release flare tube adapter

Apparatus for mounting a removable flare tube to the deck of an aircraft, wherein a flare is discharged from the aircraft via a main tube disposed between the aircraft deck and the fuselage of the aircraft, said apparatus comprising:

• a lower mounting assembly attached to an upper surface of the aircraft deck and having a first aperture aligned and in contact with an upper end of the main tube, said lower mounting assembly further including plural spaced first outer lugs each having a respective first slot therein;
• an upper mounting assembly disposed on an upper portion of said lower mounting assembly and having a second aperture therein, wherein said second aperture is aligned and continuous with said first aperture, said upper mounting assembly further including an upper mounting plate disposed about said second aperture and adapted for sealed coupling to a lower end of the flare tube, wherein said aligned first and second apertures are adapted for directing a flare discharged from the flare tube to said main tube, said upper mounting assembly further including plural spaced second outer lugs each having a respective second slot therein, wherein each of said second lugs is adapted for alignment and tight-fitting positioning with a respective one of said first lugs with their respective first and second slots aligned with one another;
• a seal member disposed between and in contact with said lower mounting assembly and said upper mount assembly;
• and
• plural coupling pins each adapted for tight-fitting insertion in a pair of aligned first and second slots disposed in respective first and second lugs for securely connecting said lower and upper mounting assemblies together in a sealed, removable manner.