HARTWELL BEGINS DELIVERY OF ESCAPE HATCHES FOR BOEING 787

PARIS AIR SHOW (June 18, 2007) — Leading latch manufacturer Hartwell Corporation has announced at the Paris Air Show that it has begun shipping production units of its sophisticated latching system assembled in the state-of-the-art crew escape door for the Boeing 787. The escape hatch, manufactured for a prime contractor, is an inward opening plug-type door is intended as an emergency exit for the flight crew and can be accessed from both inside and outside the airplane.

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Hartwell worked with the customer’s engineers, looking for performance and weight improvements during the design-to-prototype phase. The resulting flush-handle and latch mechanism assemblies met or exceeded all the initial design and weight requirements. Utilizing a unique linkage mechanism, the crew escape door inner handle rotates separately from the outer handle. When opening from the outside the inner handle is slaved to the outer handle and rotates along. The inner handle then releases the door liner cover. Structural deflections do not cause mechanisms to unlock or otherwise induce opening actions; it is biased in the latched position. The resulting handle latch mechanism meets or exceeds all the initial design and weight requirements.

Although the design ensures no possible unintended release, it is exceptionally easy to operate and can be used during turnarounds for additional ventilation. The mechanism was designed using 3D-CAD modeling and in-house rapid prototyping to validate the design.

In addition to solving all of the customer’s complex latching and safety requirements Hartwell’s design uses the minimum possible number of moving components.

Headquartered in Placentia, California, Hartwell Corporation is a member of the McKechnie Aerospace Structures group. The company is an acknowledged leader in the design and manufacture of quick access latches, latching systems, and complex door and other assemblies for aircraft. In business for nearly 70 years, the company has developed many of the latches and latching systems in use today. Hartwell supports engine and airframe OEMs, as well as systems manufacturing with rapid response for prototypes and “first to market” concepts. Hartwell latches can be found on virtually every platform flying in the western world today. Hartwell supports its customers with specialized manufacturing programs and customer logistics programs.

For more information or to arrange for an interview, contact Christine A. Weissinger, phone: 1.949.769.6100.  Email: cwessinger@mckechnieaerospace.com