USAF Extrication Tool

This cutting, lifting and spreading extrication tool is powered by a hydraulic-assist hand pump, to be used by United States Air Force rescue teams during search and rescue missions in the event of a vehicle crash. The tool enables a single user to fully operate it without having to remove either hand from the two handles. The design features a push-button rotating front handle, a hyperextend rotating pump handle, a 360-degree, thumb-actuated, open-neutral-close mode toggle, and infrared indicators highlighting actionable components under night vision. The new design is also 30% lighter and 15% shorter than the current fielded tool.

Contact: Craig Mackiewicz: craigm@solidthinking.com

Credit: James Trumble, IDSA and Craig Mackiewicz of solidThinking, inc.; and Shaun Muston, Ed Wettlaufer and Dragi Gasevki of Altair ProductDesign for the United States Air Force