FLYJACK

Robert, Do you have access to a drone? It would be amazing if you could get elevated drone shots of the Placard area...

True, the data for the winds aloft increased speed at elevation. However, the wind data from the FBI was consistent in direction. So, wind same direction but increasing at elevation. But, the wind direction they used was an average of Salem and Portland between 8-9PM. The Placard left the plane around 8:05 and Cooper assumed around 8:09/11.. The winds near 8 PM were actually from the ESE and shifted to S and then SSW. The FBI ASSUMED SSW winds for the area Cooper jumped. The placard found right under the flightpath doesn't indicate a radically different flightpath, it indicates that the FBI wind estimate of SSW was wrong for that location. I would be quite amazing for the Placard found years later to fly through the wind 5+ miles and land exactly under the wrong flightpath.. not to mention all the evidence from the FBI, ATC, Boeing, NorthWest, Air Force, chase plane pilots would have to be wrong. IMO, the alternate Western flightpath argument is based on 1 false assumption, THE WIND direction at that location and time. Winds were an estimate.. based on both Salem and Portland AND averaged over an hour timespan. The winds weren't known, they were a guess. They assumed SSW but near 8 PM they were ESE..

More on the chutes... The back chute Hayden got back from the FBI does not match the back chute found on the plane.. it doesn't really match the chute described by the FBI as Hayden's.. Bruce Smith wrote,, https://themountainnewswa.net/2011/10/25/db-cooper-case-heats-up-again-with-controversy-over-parachutes/ "However, these documents proclaim Hayden as the owner of the two back chutes delivered to Cooper aboard Flight 305. Norman is also cited as the source of the information on the back parachutes as detailed in these documents, but Norman says that he never spoke to an FBI agent about the chutes. In fact, Norman was dismayed when I read him the FBI’s report.” "the rig was comparable to what is listed as chute #1 in the FBI “parachute” document. Nevertheless, there were some variations. First, the container looked old – WWII vintage – even though the manufacturing label said April 1957. Further, I didn’t see any “wear marks,” as suggested in the FBI docs. “This is a luxury chute?” Norman sighed when I read the FBI document to him, clearly refuting this aspect of the Bureau’s characterization of the “chute not-taken.” Compounding doubts further, the harness material looked fresh, as if it came from a more current rig. Plus, I didn’t see any special padding on them, which the FBI claims should be there. Also, there was a rectangular foam pad, covered in grayish-blue nylon that looked like a little pillow and was located in the middle part of the harness, as if it was padding to make the rig more comfortable for an acrobatic pilot to wear. The container was a Pioneer, type 226, as has been described in FBI reports. I saw no “Steinthal” markings of any kind for the canopy, as FBI Cooper case agent Larry Carr has indicated on the “DropZone.” This begs the question of whether Carr or other FBI agents pulled the canopy out of the Pioneer container to fully inspect the parachute and thus learned it was a Steinthal. This suggests that there are more, yet-to-found FBI files on the parachutes. Or are the FBI documents a mish-mash of data on chutes, agent recollections, and bits and pieces of information from Cossey and Hayden? 1. Civilian luxury type, tan soft cotton material outside, 26 foot while canopy inside. The parachute inside is a military parachute. The parachute has a foam pad cushion and a fray mark down the rib on the back from rubbing on metal. 2. A military backpack parachute, standard olive drab green on outside, a 28 foot white canopy on inside. He (Norman Hayden) stated that this parachute also has a foam pad cushion." The back chute found intact on the plane packing card had a S/N 60-9707 for a conical chute. National Guard claimed it was a 1960 Pioneer. The packing card for the chute Hayden rec'd back has S/N 226 for a 26' Ripstop Conical chute. Both have the same packing date by Cossey of May 21/71. They are two different chutes. Two different packing cards. They must have mixed and matched the 2 Hayden and 2 Cossey chutes losing track of who owned which one. Cossey described his chutes.. a 26' and 28'.. with the same descent rate.

What about the wind, nobody knows what the wind was there at that time,, the FBI used Salem and Portland winds and averaged them between 8-9 PM. Using SSW. They guessed, the winds nearby were ESE around 8 PM shifting to S to SSW. Without knowing the actual winds at that spot, there is no valid Placard analysis.

That letter states that Hayden supplied two chutes to NorthWest Airlines, it does not state that they both went to Cooper. That Detlor letter does not conflict with Cooper using one of Cossey's chutes.

7/60 is the mfr date, not the serial number.. The way the packing card reads the label is below but it appears above.. Both of these had packing cards.. 2 cards, 2 chutes packed on the same day.. the day Hayden acquired both his chutes. 1. MAKE: Pioneer TYPE: 26 ft white ripstop conical, SERIAL NO: 226, DATE OF MFR 9/57 (1957) --- packed by Cossey 5/21/71 (Hayden got this one back) 2. MAKE: Pioneer TYPE: 24 ft white ripstop conical, SERIAL NO: 260-9707, DATE OF MFR: 7/60 (1960) --- packed by Cossey 5/21/71 (This chute was left on the plane, ID'd by National Guard in Reno)

You have one National Guard statement on one side and many overwhelming FBI docs and Cossey's claims on the other.. If you want to claim perhaps it is all in error and Cossey is a liar then why not expand that to the entire case.. how can we trust any FBI docs.. You have to use reason and logic to sort these things out. Using a minor conflict to discount everything else will get you nowhere. Ultimately, this case is an intellectual puzzle, we actually have very few pieces, some that don't even fit and many being hidden from us. WE need to apply critical thinking to advance it and solve it, we aren't getting any new evidence and the info in the FBI docs has been evaluated by them with no results..

why, the 1957 Hayden got back was in evidence but not necessarily on the plane and several other docs ID another chute as the Pioneer found on the plane. Perhaps the 24' is an error/typo but all the other info doesn't match the chute Hayden rec'd.. the only real conflict is the "24' length" written down by the National Guard. The reserve found on the plane is clearly ID,d with different S/N and date etc... The packing date for the back chute matches Hayden's chute(s).

One thought I had was that one found on the plane was Cossey's Pioneer but it was packed the same May 21/71 date as Hayden's.. that would be an amazing co-incidence and slim... and the one Hayden got back was never on the plane. Cossey hearing that a Pioneer was found on the plane would have assumed his custom chute was taken by Cooper. Then Cooper would have taken Hayden's 28 ft.. But, any way you slice it, there had to be more than 2 back chutes involved.

The info came from the packing cards.. and matches the info layout. One matches the one Hayden got back, the other doesn't at all.. Cossey claimed the custom/modified rig was his own personal one.. and was used by Cooper. I find it hard to believe that a customer would have 1 modified chute and one not. I noodled this for a bit and tried to figure out different scenarios that could fit the evidence.. the only thing that fits is that there were more than 2 back chutes and Cooper jumped with one of Cossey's. These are two different chutes.. Hayden got the 1957 back and the other was left on the plane, both have the same packing date. "this also was packed by E. J. Cossey on 5/21/71."

Hayden also stated to Bruce he wasn't sure what was in them.. Hayden got back the 26'... Cossey claimed the chutes came from his house, not Issaquah.. Cossey claimed Cooper took his 28'..

Where is the conflict? The chute Hayden rec'd back from FBI was not the same one found on the plane. There had to be more than 2 back chutes involved. I can see a call out for chutes, 2 chutes arrive in a taxi from Hayden, 2 from Cossey, somebody grabs one from each and sends to the plane. Cooper uses Cossey's and leaves Hayden's.

got it, but it was claimed to be found on the plane. The 1957 Hayden chute may be in evidence but never on the plane. Anyway you look at it, we have 2 back chutes plus the one Cooper used.

typically, doesn't mean they aren't. Hard to refute this doc.. that back chute found on the plane is not the reserve and not the one given to Hayden. The evidence is overwhelming that a back chute found left on the plane was not the one returned to Hayden.,, the FBI may be hiding something like maybe 3 back chutes went on the plane, who knows...

It isn't a list of evidence found on the plane, the airline ticket is there labelled D... it came from NorthWest.

That doesn't make sense,, your analysis isn't comprehensive and taking into account all the info. Did you read ALL the FBI docs I posted. On one report they stated "length" that was an error. The packing card only says 24' or 26'. So, even if the "length" error is discounted there is overwelhming documentation to show that the chute found on the plane wasn't the one Hayden received. Hayden sent in 2 Pioneer back chutes both packed May 21/71.. The Pioneer found on the plane doesn't match the one given back to Hayden.. It is a different diameter, different year, different serial number, packed same date as Hayden's as noted in several files. Two Pioneer back chutes were taken into evidence, so there had to be more than 2 back chutes. Cossey claimed he sent in two of his personal chutes. It all fits. Cooper jumped with one of Cossey's chutes, likely the customized 28 ft. Some FBI files do claim Cossey owned the chute given Cooper. Finally, Cossey claimed the chute Cooper took was modified. Why would Cossey modify only one of Hayden's two chutes, a customer? makes no sense.

They name 3 chutes as in evidence, not all items on the plane in Reno, the list also includes the airline ticket obtained from NorthWest. "The following is a list of evidence obtained in this case:" ... (3 chutes named) The back Pioneer Hayden got back. The back Pioneer found on the plane which matches the packing date for Hayden's. (both the same) The opened reserve chute. Anyway you slice it there had to be more than 2 back chutes involved. 2 are accounted for and Cooper took one..

There is another thing that adds to the chute confusion.. Cooper initially asked for only two chutes.. according the FBI docs he later asked for an additional two chest chutes.. That means Tina's statement about the note she dictated here is false.. or the FBI is hiding something or very confused. I wonder if Cooper asked for two "emergency" chutes and it got misinterpreted as "chest reserve" chutes. Perhaps different people requested chutes for Cooper and four back chutes were received with two going on the plane. All I know for sure is the Pioneer back chute Hayden got back wasn't the Pioneer chute left on the plane and it didn't come from Cooper so Cossey's chutes must have been used and he wasn't a liar. The other possibility is the FBI is intentionally holding back info... they have been consistent in claiming four chutes went to Cooper, two back chutes, two front reserves with one the dummy.

According to Tina.. brown ankle length pebble grain shoes, not the tie type perhaps ankle boots?

Found another FBI document... Parachutes found on plane FBI doc page 4951 "On the floor directly in front of seat number 18D, the exterior canvas cover for a chest type parachute was observed along with the handle utilized for releasing this parachute. The label on this canvas covering indicated it to be Pack Part Number 4511876B and indicated the date of manufacture to have been October, (year illegible). The flap on this canvas exterior contained a sewn on white label with the notation SSS # 5 and COSS. This flap had also been stenciled with the name JOHNSON. An opened parachute which apparently had been removed from the canvas parachute cover described above was found spread out over seats 17C and 17B. This parachute was of a pink-orange color. On seat 18B, an unopened back type parachute was observed. A card in the pocket of this parachute reflected it to be a Conacol type parachute, number 60-9707 and made by the Pioneer Parachute Company. This card indicated it was last inspected on May 21, 1971." The Pioneer back chute 60-9707 left on the plane does not match the chute Hayden got back from the FBI.. that indicates one of Hayden's chutes was not sent to the plane and Cooper must have jumped with Cossey's chute. 1. MAKE: Pioneer TYPE: 26 ft white ripstop conical, SERIAL NO: 226, DATE OF MFR 9/57 (1957) --- packed by Cossey 5/21/71 (Hayden got this one back) 2. MAKE: Pioneer TYPE: 24 ft white ripstop conical, SERIAL NO: 60-9707, DATE OF MFR: 7/60 (1960) --- packed by Cossey 5/21/71 (This back chute was left on the plane, ID'd by National Guard in Reno)

28 ft non-steerable, winds were estimated by using/averaging over time the Portland and Salem data. Initially they thought from the W, then SSW but close to 8 PM they were ESE and were shifting to S and SSW. So, like almost everything in this case,,, ???

The crew felt oscillations at 20:12, but that it the timestamp at the end of the transmission process. So, the vent was earlier.. There was a "little bob" found on the FDR at 20:09. The numbers are rounded.. If the oscillations were Cooper jumping then he likely left between 20:09 and 20:11. But even that isn't certain. The terrain looks very survivable.

yes, of course I have two samples, you are too far ahead. I wanted to figure out if it is unique first. I am not sure.. I would never write "F.B.I" like that. If it is unique then I may have a strong link, but there are other things that suggest a link too.

Question... How rare would it be to hand write "F.B.I" with periods in between and not at the end in 1971? Is that common, normal or standard? Is it a regional convention? I would write it either "FBI" or "F.B.I." with a period after the I, but I am Canadian and have had less exposure to how "FBI" is/was hand written.

nonsense, he could have picked a different seat like on the other side of the isle. He chose that seat to have the case on his right side, he could have chosen a seat to have his left hand in the case.