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I haven't a clue who Cooper really was, but this is turning out to be the "who done it" mystery of the century. Too bad they don't have a Nobel Prize in detective work. Whoever solves this one would deserve to win it. The money find puzzles the hell out of me. The inability to focus on a couple of very likely suspects puzzles the hell out of me. Perhaps one of the "airtight" alibis that was used to rule out early strong suspects is just not really true. Cooper may have died in the jump. Terrain can hide things surprisingly well. I never found my freebag and pilot chute at WFFC after a cutaway very close to the DZ even though numerous witnesses showed me (by pointing to a spot on a field just the other side of the runway) where it came down. I and two friends searched for many hours. They have never found Steve Fosset's plane despite massive, intense and highly sophisticated searching. If Cooper did perish in the jump, someone should have connected a disappearance of a friend with the crime. People (even his landlord or mailman) would have started talking and speculating unless the guy was a total loner with no connections. I hope ckret solves it. It would make detective history. Vegas should establish odds and take bets 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Jo says: "the one thing that puzzled the FBI and the media was that Cooper referred to the intercom as Interphone." If that is an accurate statement it may offer a small clue. Military aircraft intercom eqpt in the 40s and 50s and perhaps even today are referred to as Interphone gear eg. the AN/AIC 10 Interphone Amplifier used in 1950s transports like the C 54. I have no military flying experience so I dont know if aircrew called it an Interphone or whether the term was just used by the radio technicians who installed and serviced them. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

What EXACTLY did Cooper say when he requested 4 chutes? Did he say I want 4 parachutes? Did he use the words reserve or main or chest mount? I have always doubted that he was a skydiver, but there may be a clue in how he ordered his chutes. If he was a skydiver and died in the jump I think his absence would have been noticed and people would have started speculating, especially if he resembled the sketches. If he survived the landing, walked out and told no one, it would be damned tough to figure out who he was without a DNA match. He likely lost most or all of the money during the jump so he would not have been a conspicuous spender after the caper. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I thought the NB36 was as far as it went in nuke plane propulsion research. I had NO IDEA that a propulsion engine was actually made, regardless of size or weight. Not too related to skydiving history, but damned interesting. I read that due to the lead shielding and super thick windows that the NB 36 cockpit was dead quiet even with six 4360 radials running at cruise power. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I have 2 rigs, same main (Triathlon) and reserve (PD 193) canopies but one main is a 190 and the other is a 210. If it is really windy I jump the 190, if it is moderate I can rotate rigs, if it is calm I prefer the larger main. Even though it is only slightly larger (210 vs 190) it does make a very noticeable difference on calm days. At boogies like WFFC having two rigs means you can make lots of jumps in one day if you don't mind using packers. I considered getting really different mains, like one 7 cell Volvo and one elliptical Porsche, but decided that common flight characteristics would be less confusing and ultimately safer. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I made my first jump at Livermore CA (Cal Club DZ) at age 18, in 1968. I had been waiting impatiently for five years. I first saw jumping at Calistoga DZ when I was about 13. I HAD to do it ever since seeing those Calistoga skydivers. I was at such an impressionable age. My parents and siblings only wanted to stay to watch one load but I begged them to wait and we stayed for hours. I just thought it was the coolest thing in the entire universe. The jumpers were really nice to me, let me handle some gear, answered a million whuffo kid questions, and earnestly encouraged me to jump with them when I turned 18. I counted the days. I am 58 now and still jump. It is no longer the coolest thing in the entire universe but still damned close. I am really lucky to have jumped in the 60s. It was a different world back then. Many things are better now, like the gear, but there was a non commercial anti authoritarian rebel spirit back then that was unique and I miss it. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

All true, but I still like the DZ a LOT. Those views just knock me out and are worth the extra drive as I pass by the sunny Hollister turnoff headed south into marine weather. The Nardi King Air is the fastest climber that I have ever jumped from and that includes Mike Mullins' rocket. Bad for time building pilots but great for impatient jumpers. I actually prefer a lesiurely ride to altitude and miss the old Twin Beech, Lodestar and DC 3 rides. You could actually catch a nap on the way up. I miss Pope Valley DZ too. The good ol days..... I do NOT miss landing the old round surplus canopies, ouch. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I don't know what they offer pilots but with a souped up King Air that get me to 15k in less than 8 minutes and not all that many jumpers, how could you ever get much logged time at that DZ? At least with a slow climber you get some significant time per load. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Before you buy a canopy fly an appropriately sized Triathlon. I tried lots before I bought my Tri and I have had no regrets later. There are other very good canopies, but for me the Tri had the best combination of virtues, especially its rock stable flying in turbulent conditions and its ability to fly a steep approach in nearly full brakes without stalling. Fly before you buy regardless of what you read. There is no substitute for a test flight. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Not a plane, definitely not jumpable, but still an amazing project using a Super Connie engine for a tractor. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I don't know whether he normally wore a belt. What seemed odd is how incredibly fast the roll rate was. He buzzed us at a speed far higher than I have ever seen a Cessna 180 fly, really low, and then snap rolled into the ground. The wingtip just barely cleared the ground in the first 90 degrees of roll. Seemed too crazy to be intentional. The roll rate looked more appropriate for a fighter than a Cessna. Could something have broken that would have caused what I saw? 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Still think about that accident and wonder if the NTSB might have it wrong. John was a great guy and seemingly too good a pilot to have tried a snap roll at less than 30 feet of altitude without a seatbelt. I jumped from his plane, landed and saw it happen just a few hundred feet away after he buzzed us. RIP and blue skies forever John. NTSB Identification: OAK73AP029 14 CFR Part 91 General Aviation Event occurred Friday, March 23, 1973 in LIVERMORE, CA Aircraft: CESSNA 180A, registration: N7869A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA F S M/N PURPOSE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-0452 73/3/23 LIVERMORE,CALIF CESSNA 180A CR- 1 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 4803 TIME - 1747 N7869A PX- 0 0 0 PARAJUMP-SPORT TOTAL HOURS, 4 IN TYPE, DAMAGE-DESTROYED OT- 0 0 0 NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. NAME OF AIRPORT - LIVERMORE DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION LIVERMORE,CALIF NAPA,CALIF TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS PROBABLE CAUSE(S) PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING FACTOR(S) MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEAT BELT NOT FASTENED REMARKS- FOLLOWED PARACHUTISTS TO GRND,BUZZED DROP ZONE,THEN LOST CTL IN LOW ALT AEROBATIC MANEUVER. Index for Mar1973 | Index of months 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Jumped this DC 3 at WFFC. Sure seemed a stronger climber than others I have flown in. Upgraded engines? 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Really interesting story on these jumps. FAR had huge plans and some huge planes (some C 97s and a couple of C 133s which look like C 130 Hercs on steroids). They never got their ambitious airborne relief program off the ground partly due to FAA and Douglas doing everything possible to keep the C 133s from flying. These HUGE four engine turboprop planes had suffered in flight structural failures in USAF service and all were retired with fairly low hours (about 14,000 hours TT). FAR wanted to equip them as flying hospitals and fly to disaster areas. Only one still flies, very occasionally, out of Anchorage AK. It is not FAA legal for revenue flights but can fly on State of Alaska missions such as flying school buses to distant locations. This C 97 jump story is really interesting since everyone has told me that FAR never flew any missions other than the initial ferry flights from the government boneyards in AZ to Long Beach and to Mojave. Apparently these C 97 jump flights were the only flight operations FAR ever did. Two of their former C 133s are derelict at Mojave CA and serve as parts sources for the flyer in AK. Don't know what became of their C 97s. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Civilian USAF surplus Boeing C 97G, shot in Florida. Plane was used in a James Bond movie. Would love to get a good copy of this shot. There is only one C 97 still airworthy, owned by Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation. Clay Lacy of Reno air racing fame has bought two non flyers and reportedly is going to recreate a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser for airshow work. Clay flew C 97s out of Van Nuys CA for the ANG and flew for UAL for many years. I think he is the highest time pilot in the world at present. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

sure could have used your help at Rantoul a couple of years ago. Ground crew found my main immediately and saw where my freebag went into a nearby soybean field, but we never did find the bag even after hours of searching and a low flyby. It was like those soybeans ate it and left no trace. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I sure agree on the comfort of STUNTS Eclipse rigs. Shooby, the designer, figured out "fit" in a way that nobody else has duplicated. I have jumped many different rigs, but the Eclipse is by far the comfort leader. Too bad they are out of production. I am never selling mine. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

The Germans had Jumo Diesel engines on certain models of their WW 2 JU 88 twin engine bomber. Hard to get comparable HP to weight ratios between avgas spark ignited engines and compression ignited diesels. I have trusted my life to diesels during years as a commercial tuna fisherman, often thousands of miles from shore. In my experience if you push too hard in making a diesel lightweight, reliability always suffers. The ones that go 30,000 hours without an overhaul are usually the big heavy ones, like old school CATs, Cummins and Jimmys. All steel and cast iron, no aluminum. Although electronic controls (FADEC) are making diesels more efficient, I loved the old ones which would not miss a beat during a total electrical failure. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Brian is not a Psych PhD or a licensed clinical psychologist, but he does have some useful things to say about canopy flying and also about understanding and managing fear. His book is great and his seminars even better. I am an engineer, he is not, yet he taught me to take an entirely new look at canopy flight dynamics. He questions everything, takes nothing for granted. The commonly accepted "rule" for salvaging a blown landing approach by first leveling your canopy is wrong and he shows why. All that being said Brian could benefit from his own advice. He has broken more bones than anyone I know doing stuff that he teaches others to avoid. If you get a chance to catch him speaking, don't miss it. No matter how much you think you know about canopy flying, you will learn something new. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

L&B has the best customer service I have ever experienced. They always give you the benefit of the doubt. That service has led me to buy nearly every product that they have ever made from the original Dytter to the Alti-Track. You just cannot go wrong buying an L&B product. look at all the problems the Alti-2 Neptune has experienced. You never see a grossly premature product release from L&B. If they make it, it will work. If it doesn't, they will rectify the problem, and almost always for free regardless of warranty expiration. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

What an amazing parachute Hoop! What is the story on the white red split on the one panel? Frankencanopy indeed. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Beatnik would jump it for sure. He has seriously impaired judgment when it comes to old canopy designs. The weirder and rarer, the more he wants to jump them. You know the ancient canopies you see at garage sales from some old timer, for $20, that is what he likes to jump. If you see a PC, Sled, T-Bow, Dactyl or other blast from the past flying by in the 21st century, you aren't hallucinating. It's just Beatnik doing his own version of dumpster diving. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I saw a similar plane at Skydive Monterey Bay CA's airport (Marina CA) about 5 years ago. It was, as I recall, a 337 with only a single pusher engine and a huge electronics filled extended nose. It was doing contract work for a government agency I was told. looked very strange but did a spirited takeoff and climbout. I like weird planes. The Carvair we jumped at WFFC (Fat Annie) was sure an odd duck, a double decked DC 4. Looked like a mini 747 with four props. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I had a reserve ride on my Navy 26 ft conical too and did stand it up, landed on the peas too, both quite unusual for me back in the day. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I NEVER got a standup on over 100 cheapo (surplus round) jumps. Maybe it was because my C9 canopy was third hand, porous, and cost $25. Thanks God for ram airs. The only thing I miss about the rounds is the beauty of the sun illuminating the single surface canopy like a stained glass window, and the peaceful quiet descent. Sure don't miss those bone crunching landings. The good old days were not really so good from the gear standpoint. 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.