INNOVATIVE DESIGN FOR AIRCRAFT CANOPY FRACTURING SYSTEM

This proposal describes an electrical system for fracturing aircraft canopies so a new escape system can rapidly and safely pass the seat through the canopy. No explosives are used in the system. Instead, electrical energy is converted to small pockets of high pressure plasma which will generate pressure sufficient to initiate cracks which will weaken the canopy. Within a few microseconds, the canopy would be sufficiently weakened to allow the penetrator mounted on the seat to go through with minimum imparted loads to the seat occupant, and assure the debris is small and not harmful to the occupant.