An airborne tree trimming system is described that includes a helicopter having a chassis and a frame extending beneath the helicopter chassis a trimming apparatus including a boom with an upper end and a plurality of rotatable cutting blades mounted on the boom and a release mechanism attaching the trimming apparatus to the helicopter, the release mechanism including a connector having an upper end with a first hook attachment point, a lower end with a boom attachment point, and a second hook attachment point intermediate the upper and lower end a first release hook mounted on the helicopter chassis and releasably attachable to the first hook attachment point and a second release lock mounted on the frame and releasably attachable to the second hook attachment point.
