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Jo wrote: (emphasis supplied) Cooper's widow? Duanes widow is OK but the other is a big stretch Jo. Put Duane on the plane or under a chute and I'll cut you some more slack, but until you do you can only credibly claim to be Duane Weber's widow. The Dan Cooper comics issue has almost become a core DBC thing. You aren't a credible DBC suspect unless you have some Dan Cooper comics in your personal history. I blame Snow for this even though he never ever presented the comic info that way. It kinda took off on its own. Marla's claim that her uncle had Dan Cooper comics covers tacked to the wall just sounmds implausible to me for a number of reasons. It also makes me think she researched the subject and here in the forum is where the most info is thanks to the most knowledgeable Dan Cooper comic historian, our own permabanned Snowmman. Marla's story wold be more credible to me without the Dan Cooper comics stuff. As Jo says, it's "too pat." 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

If LDC was DBC he jumped roughly 200 road miles from his home. Even with walkie talkies you'd need to have the ground person positioned within contact range. How would the ground person know where to wait? The smart move would be to wait on the highest peak accessible with a line of sight to the expected landing area, but DBC didnt have any nav gear, just his eyes and a presumably a watch. So how do you figure where the expected landing area would be? Do you just bet on an exit within x minutes of departure, plot the expected course and speed and hope for the best? I've always wanted a radio assisted crime here but even with radios the odds are extremely long against a successful rendevous and covert egress. Even if radio contact were established a rendevous is by no means assured. DBC could have landed, established contact and been unable to describe his location with enough specificity so that a ground assistant could find him. Remember, this was pre GPS and at night. I do think Snowmman or Amazon could survive the jump and find their way to civilization alive, even in similar weather, but DBC was a hot news fugitive and finding civilization was fraught with peril. He needed to get out of the search area undetected and do it before daylight. Snow is a very radio savvy guy, but could I find him and drive to him fior a pick up at night using just walkie talkies? That's not so easy. Even if both DBC and the ground man could see some common peaks and take cross bearings to get position fixes, that doesnt assure a successful rendevous. Marla Cooper is now a (transient) media star. She has put a pretty face on an interesting crime legend and that guarantees face time on TV. It's all good. The DBC pot is getting stirred up big time. Someone somewhere might remember something that is relevant. LDC should have his prints on file in military records. If there is a match to any plane prints then BINGO. Until then I am withholding judgment. I am wondering about the memories of an 8 year old being unconsciously enhanced by subesquent news and legends. Also I think its very unlikely that DBC would use his real last name on an airline ticket for the skyjack flight. It would be really dumb because everyone was thinking about "Cooper" the next day and if a Cooper you knew was mysteriously unavailable during the night of Nov 24 it would immediately make you wonder if he could be the guy. You might not pay as much attention to a "Smith" or "Jones". 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Pat 71 wrote: A novice would be at an extreme disadvantage, but might, with a ton of luck, have been able to deploy the chute and to land alive. I've jumped from a DC 9 passenger jet, but it was on a nice sunny day. It wasnt a tough jump. Look up some earlier posts by Snowmman. He gives an example of a first time jumper pulling off a jet skyjack jump. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Ordered to bury Weber? Your proof of this extraordinary claim? Jo, the incorrect McNeill info is just as easily explained by a mistake than a massive conspiracy to "bury Weber". We know which alternative Occam would choose. I can't tell you how many times I got incorrect info from the FBI or the Bureau of Prisons when I was practicing criminal law. In all but one case it was just sloppiness, poor record keeping and research and human error, not a conspiracy to conceal the truth or mislead me. The US Govt initially gave out incorrect info about the alleged UFO crash at Roswell. The alien proponents used this as hard evidence of a coverup and conspiracy. To them, incorrect info proved that aliens crashed and bodies were recovered. I've read a lot about this case and I am convinced it really was a Project Mogul balloon crash, not an ET craft. The government made mistakes, they may have even deliberatley lied, but that doesnt convert a US made balloon intoi an alien spacecraft. You need to present evidence that puts Duane on the plane or even just under a chute. Focusing on FBI mistakes or lies does neither. You have constellated the FBI's incorrect info on Duane's McNeill incarceration and made it into proof of a conspiracy to "bury Weber". Even if they were trying to bury Weber it doesnt prove he was Dan Cooper. I do agree with this one statement you made: You are the Energizer Bunny, for sure. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Don't kill this story with logic and time and distance calcs Farflung, at least not until we get some more face time with the niece. Google maps shows the road distance bertween Battleground and Sisters to be 179.2 miles. Maybe you need to do some follow up work to Bruce's convent visit. I can see you have a strong interest in that area. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/03/db-cooper-was-my-uncle_n_917323.html?ncid=webmail6 The video shows a very photogenic niece. Also shows a very brief clip of the FBI Tena Bar dig. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Pat 71 wrote: Take a listen to CB. There are guys running 5 KW stations who, to put it kindly, are not sophisticated or organized. There are some hams with double digit IQs who run some pretty sophisticated gear. All it takes is money. I wonder how an eight year old niece knew the walkie talkies purchased by her uncle were "expensive"? In 1971 Lafayette Radio was selling Japanese walkie talkies for about $40 that would have done the job. If Cooper escaped capture he might have had help on the ground. Walking out with all the hot news going on would have presented a big problem. Without a precisely planned and executed exit, meeting at a pre planned rendevous spot would be near impossible. I am not saying Cooper had a ground accomplice but if he did, then radios sure make sense. And Jo, I am not forgetting Duane's CB hobby. "4 way in the Airstream" avatar, good one Orange. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Georger wrote: I too was surprised and gratified to see that the DB Cooper story still has legs. This widely covered story will shake a lot of trees. Who knows what might come from that? That's why I don't get mad at Blevins or Cook or anyone else who presents a suspect and gets some publicity. There was a daughter who came forward a few years ago in SF saying that her father was the Zodiac killer. She too was writing a book but of course had only the purist motives in staging press conferences where she was represented by a disbarred laywer. I would be thrilled if LD Cooper was DB Cooper and used radio communications to get picked up. The chances of that working with a relatively random plane exit is TINY, but not impossible. I have demonstrated that you can easily communicate at distances over 60 miles between a jumper under canopy at 10,000 feet and a ground based person on a mountain peak, both using low power walkie talkies. After landing twenty miles was no problem. All you need is a line of sight. I have biases, I have desired outcomes, I am not impartial. I confess all these sins and ask for forgiveness. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

From the ABC story: Walkie Talkies! I am liking this story a lot. I really want Cooper to have used radio communications in executing his heist. This story really appeals to my bias. Nothing in the LD Cooper story rules out KC. Maybe they had a 4 way going in the Airstream. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Robert wrote: Come on Robert. Don't you think the police have more important things to pursue, like real crime rather than petty personal disputes? I wonder if the Auburn Police got some of that federal anti terrorism money and bought a cammo painted Hummer with a FLIR, battering ram and other tricked out goodies? I see a Tiananmen Square episode shaping up in Auburn. Bruce, this could be a great photo op. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man Bruce, unless you can get Oprah involved, I think further pursuit of Tina is a lost cause. Let's stop all the personal bickering. It does nothing to advance the pursuit of Dan Cooper. Remember him? 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Jo wrote: Jo, A point of etiquette here. This is a skydiving board. We don't make threats to turn people in to the cops. I doubt very much that Jerry Thomas impersonated an FBI agent and anything short of that isn't likely a crime. Neither the FBI or Jerry is responsible for how you've run your life. You could have at any point abandoned your Cooper quest and had a normal life. Orange and others have pointed this out to you many times to no avail. Put Duane in a chute and I'll pay attention. So will others. Even if all your RFK JFK MLK links to Duane were true that does nothing to put him aboard the NWA 727. Put him on the plane Jo with verifiable evidence. Memories of lost tickets and parking stubs and bank bags and prison smoke jumper articles and possible parachute hardware are not verifiable evidence. I do hope your health improves. I give you a hard time but I do feel sympathy for you and compassion as well. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Fess up Farflung. Sounds a lot like you. Vicki, you agree? Nice going on that 108 way Bones. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Let's start casting "appropriate" actors: Charlie Sheen Robert Downey Jr Lindsay Lohan Maybe we can get Phil Spector to write the score from prison. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

So Bones, if DBC was a "cool dude" drinking Tequila to excess and talking too much, he might very well have been a skydiver or at least a pilot. Glad you didnt rat him out if he was a sky bro. What was his jump history? Did he pay for his drinks with a twenty? 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Great to see you back here Safe, even if it's only once a year. You were doing GREAT in the tunnel, how about taking it to the next level? I have no idea who the new suspect is but it is exciting to see some FBI activity. Even if it's a dead end the news coverage might spur new substantive leads. I keep bouncing back and forth on whether DBC survived the jump but my current thinking is that he survived. Just a hunch, no evidence. I've always thought that the FBI really wanted this case solved to bring their skyjack case solving record to 100%. I give no credence to the FBI coverup conspiracy theories. I'll bet Ckret is watching this with great interest. He is, like us, a DBC addict. "They tried to make me go to rehab but I said NO NO NO." 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Maybe DBC needs to raise a little cash. Nahhh... ripcord handle is on the wrong side. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vietnam-War-era-NB6-parachute-/260823098151?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cba44a327 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Wow! That's so cool. Where did you land as an AFF student at WFFC? Far away from the main area I hope. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Good point Robert. I was thinking of the old setup with RWD. Sounds like you do some wrenching now and then. Wish Snow could post. He is deep into wrenching these days. Hope the Ariel celebration goes well. Hats off to you and AB for encouraging reading. The Borders Bookstore collapse might give some life to the struggling independent local bookstores. Sure hope so. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Jo, I know you think otherwise but I don't see how your side impact accident would cause a crankshaft seal failure. That's not, in my experience, an impact related failure unless you engine was hit head on really hard. If all else fails sue the other driver in small claims court. That is what people do when insurance companies try to lowball by claiming older low mileage cars have been "totalled" in a relatively minor accident. When the sued party calls their insurance company to handle the matter things change and settlement offers increase. Just be sure the cost to restore your car is under the small claims court recovery limit in your state. I think it's between $5000 and $7500 in most states. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Jo wrote He became a lawyer Jo. I've heard this legend for years but is the lawsuit story true? Any citation? 378 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Come on Jo, how can you blame the theft victims? Duane's thievery wasn't cute or "dumb". He was a pernicious uncaring criminal. You even watched him steal people's coats in his cloakroom swap upgrades. Duane seemed unable to avoid arrest and conviction. He couldn't be trusted. He stole, lied, cheated and conned. Who in their right mind would trust him alone with $200,000 in cash? If he was DBC he was a loner. No organization would choose him as the key player in such a scheme. So forget about the CIA, the Mafia etc. They would have recruited a better candidate. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

I miss WFFC something TERRIBLE. It's just not summer without the trip to Illinois and the wild wild times. I am a propliner junkie so it was paradise for me, C 54, Carvair, DC 3, Twin Beech etc. I never did get to jump the Connie, damn. I made every load that the C 54 flew. I liked the town, but fuck the Quincy Gestapo Police. I am sure they have armed up big time for the war on terror with Homeland Security grant money. Lots of cammo, Hummers, night vision gear, maybe even half tracks. After all, I am sure Quincy Illinois is high on the target list for Al Qaeda. I can envision an arnored vehicle attack on WFFC if it was held in Q again. We jumpers do meet most definitions of terrorist Rantoul was pretty cool. The chief of police was on site a lot. He knew a mountain from a molehill and policed accordingly. The foks of Rantoul were really nice too. I had some business that had to get done during the convention and it required days of faxes, many notarized documents etc. I went to a local title company to do the work and they ABSOLUTELY REFUSED to accept one penny. I told them it was a lot of stuff and they said anyone with a blue WFFC wrist band was welcome and would get the same hospitality. The only bad thing that happened to me at Rantoul was losing my reserve freebag and pilot chute when I cut away. I think some local kids ran off with it. We saw where the main and the bag landed but when we got there only the main remained. The main landed inside the WFFC fence and the bag outside. Glad I didnt lose the main. Beth played a big role in organizing WFFC, maybe she can tell us if there is any hope of a revival. I think if they did a WFFC revisited, a single commmerative event, with a lot of advance publicity and some great jumpships, they could draw a big crowd again. Maybe it could turn into a semi annual event. Getting interesting jumpships there is a big problem now with fuel so expensive. The CASAs are engaged in military contract work, The Carvair is dormant in Texas, The Connie hasn't flown in years, the C 54 is now hauling fuel in Alaska, and getting a DC 3 to Rantoul is an expensive proposition. The FAAs ridiculous rules (calendar based time out on an engine rather than operating hours) have grounded the Perris DC 9. Earl Cherry's C 130A is rumored to have found lucrative work flying for the CIA. There is however a DC 7B that was just restored in Florida. What an insane classic jumpship that would make. Four big 3350 cubic inch radial engines. Sounds like a hundred Harleys when taxying. Still, I'd go to WFFC even if it was just King Airs and Twin Otters. Oh, and at least one Reggae band. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

Moderating this forum can't be very rewarding for a hard core jumper like Quade, I mean we rarely talk about real skydiving, so I have a proposal: I'll moderate it. Full disclosure: I'd let Snow back on. Without Q I think Snow would play well with the rest of us. Sure, we'd have a few skirmishes but nothing I couldn't handle. I'd worry about turning into a control freak, Absolute power corrupts. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

A badge of honor indeed and one to which I aspire. 377 2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.