Robert99

And why do you assume that "he" was Cooper? The (GC) was often "Al" because the person hearing the comms couldn't always tell who he was hearing. The "(GC)" was Al telling someone else around there (like ARTCC) that "he" the pilot wanted to get up. Nobody said who "he" was. Like, "the guy in back." (source: Hominid) They probably did level off because Coop wanted to get the stairs down. That doesn't mean he requested it. It's very likely the crew just wanted to be able to concentrate on that little chore. I'll try to figure out what the rest means and get back to ya. I think there are two "he's". I think in the first instance one GC is talking to another referring to the pilot. One "Ground Control says NW 305 wants to go to altitude as fast as "he" can. Immediately afterwards (on the pdf) another GC replies okay. The next "he" is 305 referring to Cooper as in "he wants the steps down" That's my assumption

I'm inclined right now to think they had to turn the hydraulics off. Reason: Coming into Reno 305 said they needed to make a wide sweeping turn. I haven't checked it, but I don't believe their speed would have been low enough that the bank would have dropped lift enough to put them near stall speed (in a near empty condition). Maybe R99 will check that out. Hominid, Welcome to the Cooper thread. One of your earlier comments was something along the line that you were one of the original geeks and nerds. This may be true or it may be a false claim. But before I take offense, exactly how many years have you been a nerd? Now down to business. On the matter of the weight of the aircraft when it landed in Reno. In Seattle, all the cargo stayed onboard. The passengers and two FAs were released but their luggage stayed on board, except for one passenger who reboarded the aircraft to get his briefcase. The airplane apparently did not have a full load of fuel but was close to having a full fuel load. The airliner took off from Seattle at between 7:30 and 7:35 PM PST and landed about 11:00 PM PST in Reno. Presumably, it would have had at least 30 to 45 minutes of fuel on board when it landed since the flight crew did not indicate any concerns with their fuel situation. So the fuel load was decreased by the approximate 3:30 hours of flying and Cooper's jump decreased the weight by another 225 to 250 pounds. When the airliner was about 17 DME miles south of Seattle, they told the controller that they were leveling off momentairly because Cooper was having trouble getting the stairs down. And they slowed down the aircraft for a couple of minutes to help Cooper. If my memory is correct, they also stated that they were having trouble climbing with the stairs down and the flap and landing gear configuration that they had. Other than that, there is nothing in the Seattle ATC radio transcripts to indicate that they were having trouble controlling the aircraft. However, when the airliner got into the Okland ATC area, the Oakland controller told the flight crew something like "I understand that you can not make a standard rate turn (that would be a two minute turn)". The flight crew confirmed that they could not make such a turn. During subsequent exchanges, the flight crew indicated that they were having trouble descending and said that they would prefer a 300 FPM descent with 500 FPM at the outside. They also indicated that they would need plenty of time to get things set up for the Reno landing. On the approach to the runway in Reno, the crew decided that they could not descend fast enough and made a 360 degree turn in order to get into a better position for landing. And then they landed. The Oakland controller is the one who initiated the discussion about their turning and descent problems. This means that someone called him and told him of the problem but there is no record of this in the transcripts. From other sources, maybe the FBI notes, I understand that Al called Reno and told them what to expect when the aircraft landed there. So maybe it was Al or the Seattle controllers who passed the word about the control problems to the Oakland controller. The target airspeed throughout the flight seems to have been 170 KIAS, which was their best range speed for that particular configuration. R99

Art Inmates Life - you are talking in code and I am READING you. Go Ahead! Let it Blow! I am Ready! TO ALL:

Jo, Your "CODE" is pure baloney and you have been told that by people on this thread. You are now claiming that you have not seen the letter that included the numbers you claim are code? Didn't you or maybe some else post that letter to this thread?

Robert Stated: Jo SMILES!

Jo, Were you the one who made the offer?

Jo, You are the one trying to replace facts with myths! According to an entry at 10:35 PM PST in the Oakland Center's radio transcripts, Captain Scott tells the Reno tower controller that they are trying to contact Cooper to get the steps up. Earlier they had informed Cooper (or at least tried to) that damage to the stairs in landing at Reno might mean that they couldn't takeoff from there. No sparks were seen in the landing at Reno. As the aircraft was taxiing to the ramp, the tower did see some sparks from the stairs dragging on the taxiway and reported this to the flight crew at 11:03PM PST. The damage caused by the stairs dragging on the taxiway was very minor as can be seen from the photograph on Sluggo's web page. You apparently consider the "journalists" to be better witnesses than the Reno tower controllers. Again, you are the one who has been interested only in "useless Trivia" and continually ignore eyewitness accounts such as the Reno tower controllers. And you continue to try to bury Cooper in so much Duane garbage in an apparent effort to prevent Cooper from being found. Get real!

Orange, I think you and Occam are both right on this point.

If I interpret this correctly one result would be far more communication and direct action (by some means) between Cooper and the cockpit possibly thru Tina? None of this interplay is made explicit in the transcripts. Gray's book develops some of it - We know he got out of the plane, by some means. We also know a reporter on the scene at Reno reported 'some damage' to the air stairs after landing - whether this damage is consistent with Homonid's speculation is uncertain ? Does it follow, that getting the door open and stairs down relied more on the crew than on Cooper or Cooper's knowledge or skills personally than previously thought - because we know Cooper had trouble and we now know crew intervention was required. ? A couple of dumb questions. With the above scenario, what light (if any) on the Flight Engineer's panel would illuminate (as was claimed by the flight crew) when the stairway slammed shut momentarily after Cooper jumped? In the FBI re-enactment using the very same airplane, how did they put the stairway down and did the same light on the FE's panel illuminate when they dropped the weights and the door reportedly slammed shut just as it did when Cooper jumped? An additional question for bonus points. Does the flight crew and/or the FBI have some further explaining to do on this matter?

Are you going to the Portland or Ariel gatherings? As of this moment, I don't have any plans to do so. As you know, I had hoped to pay another visit to that area this past summer but a couple of distractions (one was the fire and the other is a possible health matter) got things out of synch. But I would like to talk to Richard Fazio for a few minutes so maybe all things are still possible. And who knows, maybe I could then make a more leisurely trip there for a few days next summer.

What drugs are you on! ? John Peters "Johnny" Ringo (May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882) was an outlaw Cowboy of the American Old West who was affiliated with Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell in Cochise County, Arizona Territory during 1881-1882. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Ringo Johnny Ringo an outlaw? No way! But of course everyone in Tombstone in the 1880s could be called an outlaw. Johnny Ringo, the blogger, has never answered my question if he runs the bar with his name in Tombstone. That bar is about 21 miles from my driveway. But it is only 20 miles from here to the O.K. Corral where a famous gunfight took place in the 1880s which has since become a Hollywood fairey tale. Never been there. Wasnt Ringo part of the Clanton gang that the Erps took down, or is that another 4 Monsters Abreast tale? People south of here argue over whether Jessie James even existed ? Tombstone was a law unto itself in its "golden age". Everybody was gunning for everyone else and Johnny Ringo and the Earps and Doc Holliday did have "issues". But they were all basically cast from the same mold. They were all gun fighters. Ringo may, or may not, have shot himself or then maybe someone else shot him. There are several versions of how he met his end maybe none or all of the versions are correct. The true story of what went on in Tombstone in the 1880s could be very elusive. After the gun fight at the O.K. Corral, the Earps were initially charged with murder but justice was a matter of interpretation and they ended up being run out of town. But before they got out of town, one of the Earp brothers was murdered. And the Earps replied in kind to the suspected culprits. Somewhere around 1900, a fellow named Earp who was a close relative of the Tombstone Earps was killed after a "misunderstanding" in a card game at a saloon in Willcox. No one was ever charged in that matter. Today, there are sometimes gatherings of the Earps and Clanton descendants, obviously at different times, in Tombstone. Who were the good guys and who were the bad guys is a matter for you to decide.

What drugs are you on! ? John Peters "Johnny" Ringo (May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882) was an outlaw Cowboy of the American Old West who was affiliated with Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell in Cochise County, Arizona Territory during 1881-1882. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Ringo Johnny Ringo an outlaw? No way! But of course everyone in Tombstone in the 1880s could be called an outlaw. Johnny Ringo, the blogger, has never answered my question if he runs the bar with his name in Tombstone. That bar is about 21 miles from my driveway. But it is only 20 miles from here to the O.K. Corral where a famous gunfight took place in the 1880s which has since become a Hollywood fairey tale.

Those really are "Superpeople"!

Jo, It was the FBI personnel who dug up several areas near Brian Ingram's find and found the money fragments 2 or 3 feet down.

Blevins, Let me say first that you and I actually agree on something. Apples grown in the Yakima area and other areas close by are very good indeed. Also, I agree that everyone on this thread is entitled to their own opinions, humble or otherwise. Blevins writes: The available evidence IMHO shows that Flight 305 was EAST of the Interstate 5 freeway while zipping along on its way to Portland, and then Reno. RN99 replies: If the hijacked airliner was on the centerline of V-23 during its flight thru the Portland area, then it would have been east of I-5. However, even on the FBI maps, there are indications that the airliner was west of the V-23 centerline for considerable distances. And there are other reasons for believing that the airliner passed west of Portland to avoid the possibility of being blown up over the city. That would put it west of I-5 for quite a few miles. Blevins writes: Two feet deep in sand is NOT that deep. Sand along riverbanks also has a habit of shifting around a bit due to the heavy Northwest rains and occasional windstorms. So there is no way to truly tell how deep the money was originally buried. RN99 replies: Are you suggesting that some money was buried under only two inches of sand while other money was buried under two feet of sand just a few feet away and essentially at the same elevation above the river? Incidentally, I do have some experience with how sand is influenced by flowing rivers including the Columbia (actually, it was mainly experience in a river that flowed into the Columbia a few miles later). Blevins writes: I believe Tom Kaye hit on something with his simple fan test and by discovering that the numbers on the bills were still aligned, even to the point that the ink from those numbers bled into each other perfectly. This does NOT point to the money being washed around anywhere from anywhere else. RN99 replies: Are you suggesting that the money arrived, by unknown means, at Tina Bar on the evening of the hijacking and has been there ever since? Blevins writes: It's even possible that some OTHER kid (besides Brian Ingram) on that Tena Bar beach found the money first and playfully buried it in the sand. Who knows? RN99 replies: You are kidding aren't you?

NO NO NO. Too many thing point to the fact the MONEY was on that beach FOR LESS THAN a YR, There is NO proof the money was every in the water for any lenght of time. That money was planted and there was more planted, but never found. After all of these yrs - I actually believe right across from the PDX - Duane buried money along the shoreline. In 2001 there were 4 new homes built there...I did NOT go to the second site due to time, but I was told it was very similar to the place Duane went down to the river the first time. We made 4 stops and I believe Duane made 3 deposits. What brought you to that decision? Perhaps speculation, but not facts. Sounds like you are following the Cook theory. Yes there was a landing EAST of I-5 - and I would put my life on the line on this! Jo, How long had the fragments of money that were found under two FEET of sand been there? How long had the bills that were found under two INCHES of sand been there? For starters, I would suggest different lengths of time. And that means that the money deposition at Tina Bar was a repeatable event. So you are now claiming that Duane buried money at three different locations including near the Portland Airport. The last I remember, you were only claiming that Duane threw a paper sack, contents unknown, into the Columbia River. I have not read anything by Cook (Galen Cook?) and have no idea what his theory may be. Jo, If you are betting your life on a landing east of I-5, then I would suggest that you get your affairs in order.

On the matter of tariffs, didn't the apple growers in Washington State have a problem with Japan just a few years ago about tariffs? How did that turn out? Oh, I haven't a clue. The last time I did farming I was a kid on a truck farm in Sumner. I do know this: The Seattle Times claimed in an article last year that marijuana (mostly indoor grown) was now Washington's number one cash crop, not apples. (*laughs*) One reason might be they have the medical law thing here. Blevins, If you have bothered to read a newspaper or seen a TV news program in the past several decades, then you do have a clue! Since the Washington State apple problem with Japan had to be resolved (if it ever was) at senior levels in the respective national governments, I strongly suspect that there was some mention of it in the Washington State media. So how have you managed to remain ignorant of it?

On the matter of tariffs, didn't the apple growers in Washington State have a problem with Japan just a few years ago about tariffs? How did that turn out?

How is the FLIGHT PATH based on 'findings of Dr. Palmer, and physical description of Cooper by the stewardesses?' Why do you omit bleach and the Magna Carta? Sorry for the confusion. The few things are actually four things. The flight path (1) is not known precisely, and that,of course, has zero to do with the late Dr. Palmer. So, no one really is 100% certain of where the aircraft flew. Where exactly did Cooper jump (2)? Again, not know for certain. There are some very reasonable, objective guesses as to the flight path and the departure point. The findings of Dr. Palmer (3) seem to play a very large role in this mystery. The entire Cooper mystery changed when the money was found, thus the washed ashore/placed by humans intentionally/dredged up/ et al can of worms was opened. The physical description of Cooper is provided by two or three flight attendants, and it seems that many possible suspects have been excluded or included simply due to their match to the original and revised descriptions. So, this brings me back to my assertions that there are only four things that the entire body of work regarding the search for DB Cooper revolve around. Does this seem plausible? I omitted bleach because I prefer Oxy-Clean. I didn't think the Magna Carta added any value to the discussion. King John may beg to differ. Pek771, While only Georger can speak for Georger, bleach is sometimes used to sterilize (such as the Seattle ATC radio transcripts) and the flight crew may have had the Magna Carta in mind (rather than the words of the NWA President) after the FAA Chief Psychiatrist passed the word to them that they could expect Cooper to blow up the airliner as he jumped. Perhaps the flight crew took matters into their own hands, in an act of self preservation, and the radio transcripts were purged in order to help keep things calm in case Cooper survived and decided to return the favor. After all, don't blame the flight crew for something that can be blamed on a stormy night, even if it wasn't stormy. Basically, the only believable information in the public records as to where Cooper jumped is the location where the money was found. The general consensus of opinion seems to be that the money was not moved any appreciable distance by water. The idea that someone planted the money is, at least to me, laughable. Somehow my brain simply cannot process that suggestion. So that essentially leaves only one real alternative. And that is that Cooper landed very near where the money was found and on solid ground. This seems to be to radical for some people who require more complicated explanations. But so be it. For Blevins sake, I should point out that the above completely eliminates a landing point east of Interstate 5.

Blevins writes: Americans hate buying imports from homegrown companies who have flown the coop for cheaper labor. RN99 replies: The managers of labor unions hate that, but even the union members and the general public buy the same imported products that they used to manufacture here.

Jerry, Read the label on those peaches. In the late 1990s, I happened to be passing through Georgia and went into a supermarket for reasons I don't now remember. I happened to pass by a beautiful display of peaches and stopped to look at the label on the peaches. The labels said "Product of California". So the Peach State was importing peaches from elsewhere. I guess Georgia just forgot to switch the labels. I thought he was talking about the 'other' HOT peaches. Maybe I was mistaken'. I want to go to Ariel this year also.....Jerry, you can drop your car off in Minnesota and I will bring it to Ariel this November. I could work that into my schedule for you!!! It would not be a problem on this end. :) Vicki, The other "hot GA peaches" are already in LA. No we are not!! :) The 'other' HOT peaches reside in Minnesota!!! Farflung, Duty calls. Can you get this situation in Minnesota under control? And I was referring to "Georgia peaches" not "Minnesota peaches".

Jerry, Read the label on those peaches. In the late 1990s, I happened to be passing through Georgia and went into a supermarket for reasons I don't now remember. I happened to pass by a beautiful display of peaches and stopped to look at the label on the peaches. The labels said "Product of California". So the Peach State was importing peaches from elsewhere. I guess Georgia just forgot to switch the labels. I thought he was talking about the 'other' HOT peaches. Maybe I was mistaken'. I want to go to Ariel this year also.....Jerry, you can drop your car off in Minnesota and I will bring it to Ariel this November. I could work that into my schedule for you!!! It would not be a problem on this end. :) Vicki, The other "hot GA peaches" are already in LA.

Jerry, Read the label on those peaches. In the late 1990s, I happened to be passing through Georgia and went into a supermarket for reasons I don't now remember. I happened to pass by a beautiful display of peaches and stopped to look at the label on the peaches. The labels said "Product of California". So the Peach State was importing peaches from elsewhere. I guess Georgia just forgot to switch the labels.

As an added bonus, it would have made it easier for the hunt for the skyjacker to begin. There would have been a crash site and hundreds of folks would have been on the scene very quickly. Everyone would know for certain that the hijacker must have jumped from the plane north of any crash site. As it happened, Cooper gave himself a narrow escape window by sparing the plane and crew. There would also be the matter of the bomb evidence, which could have eventually led the FBI to the hijacker. This window was the initial confusion and uncertainty on when/where he *probably* jumped. By the time that was determined and ground searchers got organized, Cooper was either a hole in the ground, at the bottom of a river or lake, or long gone. Okay, Blevins, you apparently feel you know exactly where Cooper jumped. Where was it?

As you are probably aware, Neil Armstrong had to eject from a lunar lander trainer vehicle at the NASA Houston facility when it ran out of fuel for its reaction control system. He was all over the place for a couple of seconds and was very low and almost horizontal when he did eject. There is video of that incident that gets shown periodically. Running out of fuel for the descent engine is no better if the lander is several feet above the lunar surface. Armstrong was fully aware of the situation and the possible outcomes.