Guru312

Yes, but the jumper has an obvious belly wart and the main container is open. Is this some sort of test jump? What was the purpose of the pictures for PI? Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Yes!! More people are realizing the truth about DB Cooper and from her comments over the years of this thread it's obvious that Amazon realized it a long time ago. In fact, Quade is in cahoots with Comedy Central. [Edited to correct spelling of the bossman's name.] Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

I think you may have hit on the the reason ATC didn't see Cooper jump: whuffos have more hot air than skydivers. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

This is correct. After being a DZO for 6 years I flew jumpers for about 4 years and logged 1500+ hours flying them. I did this at a number of locations in NJ, MD, DE and PA. Time period roughly 1973-1978. I communicated with ATC from Philadelphia, Dover Air Force Base, NAFEC and BWI. NAFEC is located near Atlantic City and is the home of the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center.(The name is different today.) They test just about everything related to avionics, communications,radars and more. I mention this because not all controllers could tell how many jumpers left the plane; only those from NAFEC could do that. [If I recall correctly,it was a long time ago, but maybe other did also.] Without a chart to determine exactly, I'll guess that the distances for the two DZs and NAFEC was about 30 miles. The controllers from all locations could all tell that jumpers departed the plane with out any prompting from me. In my younger, teenage years of ham radio, I always thought--mistakenly, obviously--that radar required metal for a return. Since the amount and size of metal attached to a jumper is not large, radar must get a return from the jumper too. Plus, radar can detect precipitation and flocks of birds, why not jumpers? Although I question a correlation between the 'pressure bump' and the exit, the pilots could have asked ATC if they saw anything at that time. I don't recall reading that they did ask. Now, stop mentioning my name so I can catch a few senior winks before bedtime. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

BTW...Another weird DBC connection that points to me being DBC! My grandfather taught Amelia to play golf and made her golf clubs. http://www.aicommand.com/AmeliaEarhart.htm BTW, why is AE being mentioned in a thread about DBC? OMG, is that the theme to "Twilight Zone" I hear playing? Yes! BTW, Rod Serling was in the 11th Airborne. OMG!! Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

I made money off of Cooper. We had dozens of first time jumpers more a month, for many months, because of the buzz my advertisement created... and subsequent articles and interviews created. My dropzone needed first time jumpers on a weekly basis. The money back then was in classes of college students who had no intention of making more than one brag-jump. Most people want to put a check next to "parachute jump" on their bucket list and move on to the next item. I would guess that a few hundred people believe that DB Cooper taught them to skydive in the boondocks of Southern New Jersey because of my advert. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

When Ckret began frequenting DZ.com we corresponded via PM for a while. I told him that if the Bureau wanted my DNA they'd have to send an exotic, young, female agent to get the sample because at age 69 not everything works as routinely as it did back then. Oh, wait, a simple mouth swab would work... Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

HMPH! I can't find an emotive for 'gloat' and 'smug'! But thanks, Slugs. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Ditto. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Well, yeah... I just took a long walk and spent some time thinking about my post to this thread earlier. And I just re-read it. I want to apologize to the world for such a pompous and arrogant post. I wrote that I consider jumping as a metaphor for life and everyone should 'pack their own parachute' as they go through life. My elitist comments totally disregard the shear pleasure, excitement and feeling of personal accomplishment people feel when they make that tandem jump. Their accomplishment of making that jump must be been seen through their eyes...not mine or anyone else posting here on DZ.com. They may be tandem jumping simply to check-off 'skydive' on their bucket list but that doesn't detract from the balls it takes to jump out of an airplane. Tandem jumping allows the elderly, blind or otherwise disabled to experience a freedom they could never feel in any other way. Long walks allow me to reflect on the things I've said or done over the course of the day. I think I was blind to this subject from a non-jumper's perspective. The more I think about it the more I realize how cool it is that a senior citizen--male or female-- would want to skydive. Without tandem, they'd never be able to make a jump. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Good point... I see skydiving as a metaphor for life. Packing one's own parachute and jumping out of a perfectly good airplane makes a pretty strong statement of taking charge of your own life. When I started jumping in 1960 it was a requirement of the club where I learned to jump that everyone jumped their own packing. Tandem jumping, at any age or gender, is about as far away from that as possible. Can anyone direct me to a website or other stats which shows how many tandem students stay with the sport as compared to those who make a S/L or AFF jump? I'd guess the numbers will indicate most people see tandems as a carnival ride...as opposed to a philosophy or way of viewing life. Damn, I'm getting old... Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Don't go yet. Was your above response to my post or someone else's? It seems to me we are both saying the same thing. I know I should have stayed away from this thread. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Taking the above literally is questionable and confusing. I question the knowledge of Hanson and historian Laramie. Unless protocol was different in 1946 than it is now--which I doubt was the case--packing dates and repacking dates are not stamped on a parachute they are written in a packing data record card which is placed in a "pocket" of the container the rig is packed in. The only date I ever recall seeing stamped onto a canopy is the manufacturing date. All packing and maintenance data is on the packing data card. I defer to any Master Rigger who can correct my thoughts on this since I have only a Senior rating. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

And I'm excited to be going! Interestingly, I had no desire to attend my 50th high school reunion but I can hardly wait for this Pelicanland Reunion. I jumped in MEPA meets against Pelican Skydivers who were consistent winners. I knew most of the Pelican club members long before I became one of their pilots, flying my Cessna 182 N69BS, because of MEPA meets. What a fun place with totally wonderful people. It'll be great to see them after all these years. I missed the Herd's last bash but won't miss this reunion! Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Oxymoron Airtwardo: Master of laconic profundity. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Jeesh, folks, if one of your pilots DRIVE a CAR to the reunion certainly you can. Unless I forget...I'll be there. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Whoooosh....right over. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

That's not fair! You promised you wouldn't reveal that! I never shoulda told you the full truth. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

I flew my 182 N69BS at Pelicanland in 1976. There was a short, mousey-looking guy with big ears named Mickey who jumped then. Maybe that guy was Eisner. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

In New Jersey, where I live, the State regulations go well beyond both FAA and USPA rules. It is possible in NJ to make a jump in accordance with FAA and USPA "rules" and to be violating state rules. I would google for "parachute rules" or "regulations" or "laws" or something similar along with the jumper's state. Google is your friend. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Not necessarily advice but you may get a chuckle from this: http://aicommand.com/PukeDuke.htm As others have written, getting sick isn't uncommon. As a tandem "rider" you had no responsibility for your own safety. In an AFF situation YOU are the responsible person...even with instructors holding your hand, so to speak. I think your sickness issue will lessen or disappear when you must focus on the issues of body position, ripcord pull and all the other things involved with making a skydive. Looking at this another way, you have a very good opportunity to break my record which so far, over the last 30+ years, no one has ever attempted. I don't really want to relinquish my world record of parachuting night pukes but you may be that person. Good luck. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

He isn't alone. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Not many would. The club was at Ft. Bragg---home of the Airborne. We had all kinds of aircraft available. If I can find my logbook I'll list them. My first 10 or more sport jumps--all my sport S/L-- were from helicopters. Jumping a big helicopter, I think the H-21, was like stepping out of a door. No propblast and almost no forward motion. The aircraft were awesome but the rigs sucked. The Army Team was jumping 7-TU rigs which were the hot canopy. My first dozen or so jumps were T-slot or double L rigs. Looking back, I realize the prohibition for not jumping a 7TU was more a status than safety issue. And, of course, we jumped in coveralls and wore football helmets. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

I'm talking 1960 here. I went through the Basic Airborne School at Ft. Bragg in March, 1960. I began sport jumping in August or September. I had 7 or 8 T-10 military jumps before joining the XVIII Abn Corps SPC. The Corps club required that all members learn how to pack before jumping. I jumped my own packing from the beginning. Other than the packing requirement our progression was pretty much like what Howard, Airtwardo and others have described. I'm pretty sure the club required 3 30s and 3 60s before getting off student status. If I remember correctly--which I doubt I am--we began spotting on 15s. The club atmosphere was really great for learning. What boggles my mind most--coming from the learn to pack first and jump your own packing school--is the current practice of tandem jumps and paying someone to pack. Tandems and not jumping one's own packing are a sacrilege and an offense to the Sky God. Guru312 I am not DB Cooper

Guru312 I am not DB Cooper