Curious George and aircraft doors.

Dear Sergeant Blade,

We often have static displays of Black Hawks in our Facility For visitors to look at.

One problem though: the visitors are like Curious George. They touch, grab and pull! Many of them pull the cockpit door emergency jettison handles.

This damages the door and the airframe, can injure spectators and cause a lot of frustration for the crew, and unnecessary repair on the bird.

We've come up with a door safety device that will prevent the jettison door handle From being pulled. It's a hook-like device that goes around the handle and the other end into an opening in the door. Here's how to make the tool:

1. Start with an 11-in piece of 30-gage wire rod.

2. Make a 1 3/8-in diameter bend that's approximately 2 1/4 inches from one end. Cover with red heat; shrink to make the small tool more visible.

3. Make a 3/4-in diameter bend (in opposite direction of first bend) approximately 11/4 inches from the other end.

4. Attach a "Remove Before Flight" streamer before you attach the tool.

To install the door safety device on the aircraft, all you have to do is insert the small curved end behind the door jettison lever and into the small hole just forward of the jettison lever. And place the large curved end around the door jettison handle.

Since all aircraft doors are not identical, small adjustments to the bend measurements might be needed.

SSG Kimberly Webster,

San Antonio AASF 

Sergeant Webster,

Good job. Looks like you've got this problem all hooked up. Keep it up.

Rotor Blade