FLYJACK

If Cooper was on an Aircrew or loadmaster etc.. in WW2 or Korea and had parachute training, even wore a chute.. was familiar with a 24' but never actually bailed... He would have a different perspective. It wouldn't really matter, the difference between 24 and 26 footer would not be as significant to him as to a very experienced jumper.. I think this has to be looked at through the lens of Cooper which is completely different.. I see Cooper as somebody with some military parachute training.. but not a jumper.. he may never have jumped outside of basic training.

The chutes had pockets which were labelled... if you were given a random chute to use imminently it isn't unreasonable to think to check the data and the seal. Checking the seal is part of the training. In Cooper's case he was comparing the two chutes. The only real differences on the card were age and size.. Maybe he was only checking the packing date.. The 26' returned to Hayden was cotton and had some signs of wear, noted in 1971, maybe that played a role in the selection. It is all speculation.

Here is a WW2 log book and a "Parachute inspection and drop test card"

Here is a WW2 inspection card for a seat bailout rig... kept in the chute pocket https://www.lux-military-antiques.com/en/p/usaaf-an-6510-1-seat-pack-parachute-dated-1942.htm and WW2 pilot training chute cards... https://www.ebay.com/itm/384252693681

I think the Chaucer's source was technically correct.. "packing cards" was a civilian thing.. however, military used a "data and inspection card" at least other than paratroopers.. all the bailout rigs have the pocket for it. They just had a different name... but there was a data card in the chute pocket. The reasons I lean to military experience... Cooper had aviation knowledge and combined wth his age he was likely in the military back to WW2... Most guys that age were in the military.. and got aviation experience in the military. In WW2 they used the term front and back chute,,, not sure when they stopped but that is military terminology,, a civilian jumper would have used mains and reserve.. also, sport jumping was fairly new at that time and they were much younger. There were not really 49 year old civilian jumpers then, If Cooper had no military experience and he was given a bailout rig he was unfamiliar with he would have checked the instructions. So, IMO he had some military parachute training, likely aviation related not a paratrooper, he may have done a civilian jump or two to brush up as his training could have been a while back. Also, I don't think there is necessarily a significant difference in functionality between 24 and 26 foot chutes as people make it out to be,,, The 26 ft container was originally a 24 ft,, and 24 was more common in WW2.. Also, chutes of different sizes can have the same descent rate.. Cossey "claimed" he made them the same descent rate. FWW If, for example Cooper was in WW2 and had a 24' rig,, he wouldn't worry about using it..

I don't think he was a paratrooper.. He thought they were coming from McChord because he was given wrong info by Tina.. The pilots gave her bad info.. But, he asked for fronts and backs which is military nomenclature.. and an inexperienced jumper using an old military bailout rig would not reject instructions.. he was familiar and confident using that type of rig.

The label on the pocket could have prompted him look in the pocket,, but unlikely. He had some experience and would know there was a data card. but Tina claimed he inspected the chute, he didn't want the instructions, put the chute on easily and used the term front and back chute which is WW2 era plus.. not civilian. That indicates to me some military experience, not necessarily a static paratrooper, but some other experience. I remember seeing military cards in the pockets, maybe there weren't called "packing cards"..

Maybe it is terminology,, obviously military chutes come with pockets that say something like "inspection data"... and "packing cards" are a civilian term.. IDK

It is 1971, those pockets fit a small flat piece of cardboard.. nobody would expect a tracker to be in there with an antenna and battery.... silly. Maybe in the chute.. that is why I think he tossed the dummy, it appeared to be tampered with and no seal,, he may have suspected a tracker... the other 3 had seals.

No way the pockets are too tight and small for a tracker... and it says "inspection and packing data" right on the pocket. I am sure I have seen "packing cards" or" inspection cards" for military chutes... The one returned to Hayden had the pocket for it. These also have the pockets and what appears to be logs and cards.. something went in those pockets. http://www.303rdbg.com/uniforms-gear7.html This is Haydens chute,, what was the pocket for?? No way a tracker could be in there.

Might be helpful to know which groups did use packing cards... I really have no idea...

Maybe, he just checked for a seal and the date.. Both would get him to the ground.

It makes sense for paratroopers to use logs... I am thinking other than paratroopers used cards in the chute.. Air Force crew or loadmaster etc...

I am sure I have seen packing cards for military chutes,, maybe they used both cards and logs.. It might narrow down Cooper's parachute exposure.. example,, Air Force Logs makes sense for paratroopers..

Is that universal to all military chutes.. Don't they have info in the chute, in the pocket that says "inspection and packing data".

Wouldn't a log book be in the same pocket... So, it doesn't really matter if it was a card or a log that he pulled. The chute returned to Hayden is an early 1940's P-2-B24... originally a silk 24' chute.

I know, but maybe the description was second hand.. Hayden talked to Halstad who conveyed the info to the FBI. Typical for the Vortex.

Here Cossey claimed the back chutes had the same descent rate.,, We don't trust Cossey's details but it makes sense that descent rates can be rigged for a given weight, making size less relevant.

He was referring to the initial description in the FBI files.. Bruce showed him and he said he didn't talk to them and didn't agree with the description in the files. The 1957 packing card went to Hayden.. I assume the museum has it with the chute. The 1960 packing card must still be with the FBI.. I FOIA'd for the packing cards and any info but got the canned response that anything will be in the FBI vault.

I was the one that figured the packing cards out and posted it all here a while back... you probably didn't see it. So, I agree, Cooper checked both cards and put them back in the pocket of the 26' 1957 and used the newer 24'... You are correct he had some chute knowledge but not an expert.. He probably had some parachute training in the military... I also believe he tossed the dummy because it appeared tampered with, had no seal or card... he didn't take it with him. FWW,, Cossey claimed the two back chutes (28' and 26') had the same descent rate... I know he is unreliable.

The odd thing is Hayden claimed he never talked to the FBI...

I agree, there was a lot of debate in the past in the Vortex about the 24' being accurate... or a typo.. or that a 24' emerg backchute existed.. It is accurate,, IMO.. The FBI was looking for the wrong chute... based on Cossey's description.

There is controversy about the size of the chute Cooper used,, the one left behind and given to Hayden was a 26' and Cossey claimed the other was a 28',, but the packing card said 24'.. some people said they don't exist in a back only fronts are 24'.. Cossey is unreliable.. So, I looked for and found a Pioneer 24' emergency back chute... they do exist..

Some rare wind data,, From notebook,,, Portland Ground wind at 8PM - 270 deg but at 8:30PM - 180 deg,, confirming wind was shifting

I researched this and some people actually have shallow ridges leaving no prints or very tough to detect,, other ways to temporarily hide prints are chemicals, abrasion or adhesives... It seems Cooper was not concerned with leaving prints.. and no good ones were found.