Articulated top section to increase horizontal reach. A great feature if the ladder has to stand off from the involved structure for any reason, such as trees, parked vehicles, wide sidewalks, plazas etc...
It must always give you a good feeling when you have the right kit, so that you can carry out a rescue like this.
I am always a bit upset to see how many UK fire services are reducing their numbers of aerial trucks like these. London now has only thirteen, and did not even dispatch one on the first response to the Grenfell Tower fire!
I also recently saw a video of a serious top floor flat fire in a four storey residential building in the East End, which was through the roof - and no sign of an aerial unit anywhere!
Added by Rob Johnson on 14 September 2017.