Robert99

There should be someone on this thread who can answer the question as it pertains to Boeing and NWA. My personal guess is that they were ALL automatically finger printed but that those prints, depending on the individuals job, were not necessairly put into the FBI's national database although they may have been checked with the appropriate local law enforcement agencies. But if the individuals job required a security clearance, then they would definitely be finger printed and those prints would end up at the FBI. Anyone working on a project that involved the CIA would certainly have their prints on file at the FBI (and/or CIA). In my personal case, my prints have probably been on file at the FBI since about the age of 16. They were submitted to the USAF as a requirement for flying on military aircraft at that tender age (among other things, they help identify bodies in case of accidents). Also, in the early years of the Korean War, all civilian pilots in the United States were required to get an "Airman's Identification Card" which required a full finger printing and a passport type picture. And you had to show up live and breathing at the appropriate then CAA (or what ever preceeded the FAA) office with the finger print card and picture in order to get the card. These cards were discontinued after about five years. Also, I was fingerprinted in the military and, as a civilian engineer in DOD, was fingerprinted ever time I changed employing agencies. Upon retiring from DOD, I was issued an ID card that said, among other things, "Retired". Robert99

Jo, you are saying that in the early 1990s, while watching a video made in the late 1960s - 25 years earlier, Duane told you that it was safer to jump from the rear stairs than out a side door. Do you know where Duane acquired this specific bit of wisdom. In the early 1990s, paratroopers routinely jumped out of side doors on such aircraft as the C-141, C-5, and others on a daily basis. And does 377 know how Weber became "WELL AWARE" that the 727 could be jumped from the rear stairs? And you claim that when Weber was passing all this information to you, he did not mention D.B. Cooper and all the 727 hijackings? How could he have failed to do that? You are now claiming that if TINA didn't mention a watch, then Cooper didn't have one. Did TINA also mention that Cooper had two arms and two legs? If you would bother to read my answer to your post above, H.'s book mentions the watch. And you are claiming that you have your own FBI reports on the hijacking that are NOT what the rest of us have. Gee, your very own FBI reports which only you have. How nice. Do you really want me to comment on that silly claim? Sorry to disappoint you, but when the airliner departed Seattle it went to the southwest along V-23. And the information about the 15 degree flap setting was obtained from someone who was at the "first showing" of the first Boeing (presumably the original 707 "Dash 80") in the early 1950s. Just 20 years prior to the hijacking. Oh, my! You write, "I have deliberately NOT wanted to know certain things. The purpose of this is not to fill my mind with things individuals can say . . .". You have certainly been successful at that. The end result is that all you "know" about the hijacking is straight from your own imagination with no factual basis whatsoever. Keep chasing your fairey tales if you want, but don't expect to find a rational answer to them. None exists. Robert99

QuoteJo writes: Ok Robt99 - discuss this. Where would 20 minutes out of Seattle without a known route or flight path - put Cooper. I believe if I am right he would have been in the middle of a deep forest and or a heavily populated area. That would have been a set-up for failure. R99 replies: "Without a known route or flight path ... ???" might put Cooper right back at the Seattle airport. Jo you seem to have forgotten that Cooper was familiar with the Seattle area and he had previously demonstrated that by telling one of the stews where they were by just looking out the window. But the airliner did have a known route and it was southbound on V-23. Twenty miles (I did not say minutes) would put the airliner near McChord AFB. Jo writes: He wanted that DOOR down because he wanted to be sure it was open and that he would not be trapped on that plane! Elementary. Knowing the door can be opened and being able to open it in flight would have been VERY tricky - so take the IDIOT ROUTE with Cooper....he didn't actually know HOW to open the DOOR. Fear of being trapped! R99 replies: Cooper was NOT tapped. He could have jumped from one of the escape hatches over the wings. Later hijackers did exactly that. And Cooper could have removed that hatch himself with probably less effort than lowering the rear stairs. Jo writes: CAUTION DOES NOT SPELL OUT A PLAN TO JUMP WITHIN 20 MINUTES! R99 replies: Caution requires knowledge about the rear stairs before getting on the airplane and hijacking it. Jo writes: Do I believe he had a TARGET? Yes, but maybe more than one. There WAS no mention by TINA that Cooper looked at a WATCH. That was always a curiosity to me - no mention of a WATCH! So was time of essence to Cooper - doesn't seem like it! R99 replies: Target? Jo, how was he suppose to find the target since he did not specify a flight path? And multiple targets? You simply do not understand what you are writing. As for watches, H.'s book, page 14, describes Cooper during the wait for the airliner to originally land in Portland as follows: "Cooper checked his watch frequently . . .". Jo, you apparently have not done any homework on the actual hijacking! And your ignorance of the hijacking events shows! Robert99

I dont think Blevins cares - its not in his agenda. Georger, Agreed, but in the interest of keeping the scientific method from fading into oblivion, I have actually checked the sunset time for Seattle on November 24th at timeanddate.com. The value for 1971 is not available but on November 24, 2012, the value is 4:24 PM PST. So unless Jo and/or Blevins or someone else has changed the orbit of the planet, the sunset time in 1971 was probably within a minute or two of that value. The airliner took off from Portland at almost exactly 3:00 PM PST and was immediately hijacked. The original arrival time in Seattle would have been about 3:30 PM PST. The time of 5:00 PM PST for getting the money to the airport is mentioned in several locations and, based on my memory, was originally specified by Cooper. So Cooper was planning a night jump from the start of the hijacking. And based on his arguments with the Co-Pilot, Cooper wanted to take off with the rear stairs unlocked and apparently planned to jump very soon after take off. Perhaps within 20 miles of the Seattle airport. Robert99

Problem: This assumes the hijacker was planning to jump and land in the middle of nowhere. Peaks and mountains and forests. I don't believe that was the original plan. Remember: They delayed the hijacker in Seattle until well after dark. My personal opinion is that Cooper had absolutely no intention of remaining aboard any longer than it took to put on a chute and jump. You could take some guesses on where by examining the V23 map a second time and keeping an open mind. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the hijacker and consider what he demanded and what he actually got. THINK! Would you rather jump at twilight in an area fairly recognizable from the air, with lights below, or into the darkness, over trees, in the Middle of Nowhere? I will never believe that a south-of-Merwin-Lake jump was in his original plan. That was forced upon him by these factors: 1) Plane had to circle Seattle before money was ready. 2) Once on the ground, the FBI delayed the takeoff as long as possible, until after dark. 3) Hijacker requested the plane depart with stairs down, but was told no. 4) Once airborne, it took time to put on chute, prep money, (which came packaged wrong for him and which he had to improvise to secure) and get the door open. 5) By that time, it was dark and they were past the more civilized areas. There are clues here, some based on what Cooper EXPECTED to happen, and what REALLY happened. If his original plan had worked, the money would have been ready by the time they reached Seattle, without circling. The refueling truck would have worked, and immediately. The money and chutes would have come aboard right away at the same time. The stairs would be down as they departed. There might even be some daylight left. Mexico, we're going there. Can't? Then okay...Reno. The hijacker didn't care. He had no intention of remaining aboard very long. The request for Mexico was probably nothing more than a red herring to make it harder for the FBI to locate him after he jumped. It's a long way between Seattle and Mexico. Or Reno. Big search area.

Georger whines a lot about 'personal attack,' yet his every post about yours truly always includes an insult or two. I know he whined to Kaye and that Kaye felt obligated to post a modest defense on DZ. However, I also have Kaye's original email where he talks about WHY Georger was distanced from the Citizen Sleuths. With Gmail, it really IS true: You never have to delete anything to save space unless you want to. So I keep every message except the spam. If Kaye comes onto this thread and gives me permission, I will publish his original email comments on Georger. And some of those comments are not necessarily flattering. It's not my wish to discredit Georger. I think he has been, and continues to be, a positive contributor to this thread. But if most of his posts are aimed simply at 'baiting and trapping' people, or flippant insulting comments, then I will definitely pull the covers away and expose that fact. I think those facts already exist. In the interest of peace and not alienating people, or trashing real research into the Cooper case, I believe in a happy middle ground. So should Georger. Check-in time at the Reality Hotel. Top floor, penthouse suite. ------------------------------------------------------------ Blevins, I'd like to ask a favor. Would it be possible for me to be the referee in a UFC-style match between you and Georger? One big knock-down-drag-out extravaganza. Remember you guys, no eye gouging, and you can't kick each other in the nuts -- just a good ol' fashioned fist fight. Get all that frustration out between the two of you -- once and for all. If we charge admission, I'm thinking we may be able to raise enough money to put on a good DBC Symposium. What do you guys think? I'll be an impartial referee, I promise. MeyerLouie And maybe this could be held at Blevins' world famous Auburn Theatre. Robert99

Jo, You don't seem to understand what Mrshutter told you several days ago. Duane was trying to use fraud to get the second driver's license. The first office, for reasons you apparently don't know, refused to issue him ANY license. He then went to an office in another county and they did issue him a license in the Collins name. So Duane then had two driver's licenses in two different name and one of them was obtained by fraud. After the law enforcement people visited you and you denied knowing where Duane was, they apparently waited a few minutes nearby and then followed you to Duane's location. Or to put it in plain English, they then knew that you had lied to them. The issuance of driver's licenses is a Florida state function (in this instance) and has nothing to do with the FBI. Why do you find this so difficult to understand? Robert99

Jo, The above is revisionist history. You have been calling me a "troll living under a bridge" and a "moron" for several years. In fact just check your posts within the last couple of weeks. Robert99 Excuse me! A "troll living under a bridge" I don't remember saying that - are you sure it was me? If I said "moron" it must have been deserved! SEVERAL YEARS? You have not been on this thread for SEVERAL yrs? If I said both of those things over a several yr period of time - you can bet you had me pissed off big time! You would NOT want to know the things I call you after I get off the thread and before I chill out. If my written word was as sharp as my tongue I would have been band from the thread in a New York minute. In a private moment of anger I am NOT a lady, but I stay in control or try to with the written word. I am sure I have "thought" every word one could apply to a man when I have been opposed. A wimp I am not. Jo, the troll remark was made sometime prior to August 2011 and I think it was made sometime in 2010 when you and I exchanged about 10 posts one evening when you went ballastic. But it is mentioned again in a post on page 1021. If you don't believe you made it, search your own posts for it. At least one of your "moron" remarks was made within about the past month. I did find an interesting post (number 25510) for August 7, 2011 and which was made during an earlier discussion on Duane's glasses. Longtimelurker asks "If Duane only needed glasses for reading, why is he wearing them in ever picture?". On that same page is also a discussion of the great "Duane Serial Number Code Mystery". With the glasses and code posting continuing even today, it should be readily apparent that nothing really changes here. Finally, Georger was right. Robert99

Felix Baumgartner appeared earlier today on the Today Show on NBC. He "confessed" that he did not enjoy the jump, which proves that he is sane. The Today segment had video from his body cameras during the wild spinning. The segment and video link can be found at "http://www.nbcnews.com" in the "Lifestyles" section. The National Geographic Channel is planning to air a special on his jump on Sunday, November 11, titled: "Space Dive". Robert99

Jo, The above is revisionist history. You have been calling me a "troll living under a bridge" and a "moron" for several years. In fact just check your posts within the last couple of weeks. Robert99

Duane's MO was robbing women he lured with alcohol of their valuables after he slept with them. Perhaps the FBI told me - you THINK! That was also told to me by the Brother and to some extent the FBI. He also stole wallets from purses in bars after the woman had a little too much to drink. Source to remain anonymous: He also robbed hotel and motel rooms along the beach - by accessing the keys tourist put under their beach bags or pool towels. He never committed an armed robbery, but guns were stolen in one incident. He also worked for an insurance company collecting premiums and skimmed money from them. That TAKES a little planning on the agent's part. He worked for Pyramid Life in Ks as John Collins. An Italian restaurant owner had helped him get the job and was very disappointed in him. . None of Duane's crimes involved the use of a gun and none that I have been told about involved violence. According to one source - when he robbed a hotel room he always left enough cash to get them thru one day. I thought that was weird..,..but, it was exactly what I would have expected. He was a thief, but he had a heart. Jo, What is the source of your claims that Duane never used a gun or violence in a robbery? So Duane was a thief with a heart of gold? After sleeping with his victims, he robbed them? I don't think he has any qualifications to claim "a heart of gold". I have heard the term "a hooker with a heart of gold". If there is such a person, I guess they operate on a higher moral level than Duane did. Robert99

QuoteJo writes: I do not believe the belt or whatever it was his wife made for him was a "shoplifitng vest" as you guys mentioned and Duane never robbed a gas station or convenience store. It is my understanding he wooed women and then left with their valuables. Or he relieved them of valuables after acquiring their room keys left under a beach towel. R99 replies: Jo, this gets better every time you repeat it. Perhaps you could get a "soap opera", if such things still exist, to devote a segment or two to a story based on Duane. How do you know Duane never robbed a gas station or convenience store or was a ladies man? Did he tell you that? If so, then it must be true. Did any of your jewelery or valuables disappear during your marriage to him? Jo writes about the "nightmare": He specifically said AFT STAIRS and if you remember I questioned him as to what AFT stairs was? Where the hell do you think Cook hijacked his fingerprint story from - his conversations with me. R99 replies: The word "AFT" is a Navy, or nautical, term. While Duane may have worn a sailor's uniform for a short while, I seriously doubt that he would have learned much sailor lingo before he was discovered and booted out of the Navy. As I recall it, Duane didn't go to boot camp in the Navy. Non-nautical types would probably have referred to them as the "REAR STAIRS" unless they had read a book that used the term "AFT STAIRS". I personally have not seen any writings from Galen Cook as far as I can remember. I may have read some "allegations" that others claim Cook wrote. But "allegations" don't place very high on my "reliable sources" index. Jo writes: The FBI never discussed Duane's criminal activities with me so I have no idea other than theft what he was in prison for. Nor has the FBI presented anything to me about John Collins or Duane Weber's records. The things I have presented are of course my versions of conversations with him - but I have relayed the conversations as accurately as I could - I have tried to be very honest and forthright. It was LOCAL FBI knew very little about Cooper nor did they question why Duane obtained and how he obtained a legal Florida Drivers License under John C. Collins... R99 replies: Jo, I am sure you believe you could do a better job of running the FBI than J. Edgar Hoover and his successors. However, that is not the way the system operates. I'll bet the FBI asked you for believeable evidence that would tie Duane Weber, aka John Collins and several other names, to any crime. Unfortunately, you did not have anything other than decades old conversations and a dead suspect. As far as Duane being able to get a Florida drivers license under another name, think F-R-A-U-D. Florida drivers licenses are issued by the state of Florida and not the FBI. This was NOT a federal matter. Robert99

Jo, As one of the "bunch of jerks" you refer to above, there are plenty of illegal ways that Duane could have acquired the money he used to pay for the diamond ring, lend money to his boss, and other such things. Such as utilizing his "shoplifting vest" or just robbing a gas station or a convenience store. You mention the "nightmare" in which you claim Duane made a remark that he had left his fingerprints on the "stairs". Those stairs could be the stairs in some building that has nothing to do with the hijacking. Why do you think that Cooper wanted to get his original hijacking note back? Maybe his fingerprints were on it. Duane was a career criminal and not a very good one according to his 26+ arrests and lengthy prison times. He was not just a good boy who make a minor mistake while head home from choir practice. You are free to believe anything you want about him. But you have not presented anything, except your version of conversations with him, to tie him to the Cooper hijacking. Robert99

Were you doing the butterfly....or backstroking or breast stroking ??? Mainly, I was trying to find an oar to hit the jerk who caused the canoe to capsize over the head with. Robert99

Robert99 then make the post below: You Robert99 are someone whose only reason to exist is to make fun of other people or to put them down. I have PLAYED NO GAME....if the FBI wants me to shut up and to give me my life back - then they NEED to support the CLAIMS they made. JUST exactly WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE in being in this THREAD. You have presented nothing that could bring an end to the Cooper saga - NOTHING! I may not have the degrees nor the abilitiy to do some of the things you and others do, but you nor anyone else has offered an explanation about Weber and you cannot because you never met him nor have you seen the actual files. You cannot judge me by what I write - I am not a writer - I just put down my heart and soul and tell what I know and occasionally have a little fun and if I do - some JERK like you takes it as serious. BEFORE you SLANDER me or MAKE FUN of me - TELL the thread WHO you ARE and WHAT YOU DO and WHY YOU are REALLY HERE! DO you NOT think some of your STATEMENTS are off! Jo, I don't know if it is still operative or not, but there used to be a saying that "Truth is an absolute defense". I have NOT slandered you. I HAVE pointed out absurd comments that you have made. And if you want to know the type of comments I am referring to, just read some of the posts you have made on this thread today. And yet you write above that you are just having a little fun and say that your posts should not be taken seriously. If the FBI wants you to shut up, then I guess you feel that ignoring you is their way of doing that. The FBI cannot give you your life back because they don't have it. And never did. If your life is screwed up it is because you did it all by yourself. Who am I? As I have stated before, I do NOT work for the FBI or any other law enforcement agency. Also, I do not work for any governmental agency. Otherwise, I am exactly who I said I am. And if you had questions about that and had done your homework, then you wouldn't be asking that question again. What am I doing on this thread? I am interested in helping solve the Cooper hijacking and I believe it can be solved even at this late date. I have a question for you. Exactly what are YOU doing on this thread? Robert99

Again Jo, nobody is asking you to reveal the source, just the supposed contents of these files you believe are so crucial. Sometimes you dont realize how empty your posts are. You want people to help you obtain some secret files from a secret person for a purpose that is also secret. If you said more, you claim that the FBI would swoop in and suppress or destroy those crucial records. Yawn.. Wake me up when you have some substantive evidence. For someone who claims they have little time left, you sure take the long road. 377 Hey, I am not putting myself out there for a lawsuit and the only way to explain what I have been working on would only cause the individual or individuals to become MORE difficult to deal with and hold out even more. Sorry I brought the subject up but was hoping for a little support on this. If you knew the nature of the material you would UNDERSTAND why it has been difficult to access - only one person has control of this info and there is NO way to get access except thru this one individual. ODD how people want a helping of whats on the table they are helpful, but when the buffet is hidden from view they just pass on by. Jo, How long have you and Knoss been playing this silly game? You are flip sides of the same coin. What is your purpose here? You and Knoss give me the impression that both of you are seriously delusional. Robert99

How DO you expect me to do THAT? Number one the FBI or someone else - would be right on top of it and destroy the key information I need. I won't let that happen! If I revealed the source the FBI would confiscate the files and I AM the only one who KNOWS what I am looking for. Just deleted the last paragraph! I need the help of a CA. Attorney and that is ALL I can say about what I am after. I will NOT compromise the very thing that may solve this case. AT least for me if there is NOTHING there - then I have to WALK away....but, I feel the key is in those files. The prints and DNA - do any of you have an actual realistic explanation for that. WAS Cooper a NO BODY who was never fingerprinted, remember this rules out just about anyone who had actual knowledge of the BOEING aft stairs? Now for a REAL STORY! Is this one a FANTASY? Am I playing a game? Am I teasing? Perhaps Cooper had no record but had knowledge of jumping. Someone who just disappeared off the face of the earth in 1971. A man who was Nobody! Some one who served in the service, but had no criminal factors. A loner who knew Weber and thought the project was a lark. What if Cooper did have a homing device on him - so he could be found by his partner. What if what the partner found was a dead or dying man. He was a friend, but how would he dispose of the body? If anyone found his body - it would lead a trail right back to him. How would one dispose of a body if you had a vehicle and the body and the chute. Would you dispose of all the evidence in different places. Yes, of course. Can't go far with a body or the chute and he has to dispose of the vehicle. The body? Try old cemeterys. The chute? Just about anywhere that would not be in the jump zone. The nobody's ID? Cut it up and flush it. The car? Might have been stolen but maybe bought under a fradulent name. Wonder what the car disposed of on Hwy 500 that wk-end was register to? Oh, and the rental at the PDX - the FBI never divulged the person it was rented to. Wonder WHY the FBI never spoke about that car? Maybe someone removed it later and then disposed of it elsewhere - like Vegas. There is a cemetery and a grave marker - perhaps there are 2 bodies buried there. Can anyone obtain a list of all of the deceased in WA in November 1971? Freaky right - but, what if one of those name stood out...there would still be DNA in that grave.

Jo, All those alleged 727 design documents would not have answered the basic questions about whether the plane was jumpable. The answer isn't found in system diagrams or schematics. 377 Yeah.. Commercial division is not really into that sort of thing.. Hell even the pilots in test or certification do not wear parachutes. Those guys just assume the thing is gonna fly first time When we were building the first 787I was out helping with some "issues" on the shop floor . I was right there on Numero Uno.... I went to the aft cabin door, looked for any obstructions that might interfere with some fun... and volunteered to test jump it for them over Paine Field when they got it flying... They were SOOOO not interested. Amazon, You have got some "trust issues" yourself. You obviously don't trust parachutes since you carry two or more on jumps. And now you obviously don't trust aeronautical engineers. And probably ever pilot that works for Boeing and makes first flights, test flights, and/or certifications flights is also an aeronautical engineer. A good shrink might be able to help with your own trust issues. Robert99 Nah.. no shrinks needed.. just more time in the air Tell me Robert... do you go SWIMMING in a boat???? If you really want to fly... get out of the damn airplane. Amazon, The last time I went swimming was when I happened to be in a canoe that capsized. I may have actually done some swimming in the canoe trying to get it upright again. Does that qualify? Robert99 Swimmer, Retired Aeronautical Engineer, Retired Retired, Retired, Etc.

HE WAS! Cooper had enough information to know the -plane was jumpable. It is NO secret that the plane was jumped from the belly in 1968 - you have seen the film Snowman found. If Cooper has spent sometime in a prison with a pilot or co-pilot in 1968 - he could have gleaned enough knowledge to know it was DO-able after all they spent their time sitting around talking about doing the BIG ONE! The FIRST calls out of the prison system came from Jefferson, but the local FBI lost the notes these agents made or they have been destroyed. This caller claimed he knew who COOPER was....now remember Weber was not Weber in Jefferson - but COLLINS. Perhaps a convict trying to buy himself some good time off! Carr claimed he try to find those records and for that I will give him credit. The man Duane talked about in the N.W. may have been involved with the Boeings. He could have been John's partner in an investment that went sour and failed. Duane talked about Pullyallup and a man who used to live there, but we were not going there. It was after this he mentions his brother and a partner making an investment in some commericial property they lost because it was at the wrong time. I have not been able to find out who that friend of John's was. The FBI didn't care! He also mentions a man who flew the area and about flights to Vancouver CA and he mentioned other places. Was all of the above about ONE person and not 2 different individuals? I repeatedly told Mr H about this over the yrs. I thought everything I told him went to the FBI - what a horrid mistake! But, I was working long hours and I only had so much time and little money to devote to the past. Yet, now I realize maybe this information all went to the WRONG person... The FBI did NOT call me and talk to me and ask me if I had anymore information - just what they took from my home in 1996. They never asked me about things connected to the N.W. during my marriage to Duane Weber...NOT one time. I could not afford to call them and talk to them at length - I left it up to the FBI! All Cooper needed was to find out how the door opened and when it could be opened....that information was NOT that difficult to come by if you knew someone who had knowledge of the Boeing 727 or someone who helped to develope the plane. YES, it took more than just a pilot of the 727 to obtain that infomation. Was Cooper connected to one of the actions that required jumping from a 727 or did he just know the stories told about jumping from the aft stairs? How could he obtain the details he would need? The FBI investigated many of the OPS and others who had knowledge of the aft stairs and the capability to jump from them and they did not find Cooper. They investigated many of them. They also went looking for smokejumpers with this knowledge....remember they were NOT just looking for a smokejumper, but one with knowledge of the 727's. A rare combination don't you think? Of course they found nothing. There were lots of yokels out there with enough knowledge to bail out with an old army chute, but not with the knowledge of the AFT stairs on a 727. Who was gutsy enough to do such a jump? Well, someone who didn't care if he lived or died such as Duane Weber who had been handed a horrible death sentence. Ask anyone about dialysis in the 1970's it was gruesome. Frankly if I had faced what was facing Duane at 45 plus yrs and after seeing his mother die on the machine in 1958 - I would have tried to live my life to the fullest. An ex-con did NOT have many options in 1971. He was no longer going to be able to do outside manual labor and the prognosis in 1971 - was very limited. Did Weber formulate a plan after the realization of what his future held? What kind of plan could he possible make for the situation? Well he was an unemployable thief and had spent 16 yrs + of his life behind bars - what were his OPTIONS? He wanted the GOOD life - so how would he get the money he needed. If he had to go on the machine in those days - he would have lived on the streets - and would have been allowed to die there. We did NOT have medicare that would pay for his treatments without a permanent residence and disability was almost non-existent. He had no family he could turn too. What would you have done - KILLED YOURSELF, maybe? Whether Cooper had help in formulating his plan or if it was a plan at all - was it out of desperation? I do believe the ACT was planned, but was anyone else involved? Sure you guys think Weber was just a bungling ex-con who always got caught and his family wanted nothing to do with him, but WHAT IF he got lucky. What if this man with NO future ACTUALLY made it to the ground how did he get away? Was there someone with him or did he contact someone after the fact for assistance?. If there was SOMEONE else involved why did they not come forward in all of these yrs? One they could have been prosecuted as an accessory after the fact or worse. Was this other person so fearful he did not talk about it or was Weber himself the one on the ground? I cannot image 2 men keeping this kind of secret for all of these yrs. Jo, I count 20+ "What if" type questions in the above. Your whole stock of theories about Duane doesn't add up to a single believable "fact" related to the possibility that Duane could have been involved in the hijacking in ANY capacity. The real question for me is why have you spent 17 years trying to prove that you late husband was D.B. Cooper? What do you get out of it? Is it ego or money? I doubt if anyone else on the planet would spend 17 minutes trying to prove that their late "dearly beloved", who was a known career criminal, did a specific crime. In my opinion, you have already wasted those 17 years and you will waste any further time you spend on this fairey tale about Duane. Robert99

Jo, Just get in touch with your local FBI office, give them the dates and location of Duane's visit to the mid-west, and ask them to check if they have any unsolved bank robberies in that area in that time frame. Who knows, the FBI might do your bidding for a change. I doubt if Duane would give a hoot to hell how the people he was robbing came into possession of the money. Duane was not Robin Hood. He robbed from the "rich" (or at least the people who had money) and kept it for himself. Robert99

Jo, All those alleged 727 design documents would not have answered the basic questions about whether the plane was jumpable. The answer isn't found in system diagrams or schematics. 377 Yeah.. Commercial division is not really into that sort of thing.. Hell even the pilots in test or certification do not wear parachutes. Those guys just assume the thing is gonna fly first time When we were building the first 787I was out helping with some "issues" on the shop floor . I was right there on Numero Uno.... I went to the aft cabin door, looked for any obstructions that might interfere with some fun... and volunteered to test jump it for them over Paine Field when they got it flying... They were SOOOO not interested. Amazon, You have got some "trust issues" yourself. You obviously don't trust parachutes since you carry two or more on jumps. And now you obviously don't trust aeronautical engineers. And probably ever pilot that works for Boeing and makes first flights, test flights, and/or certifications flights is also an aeronautical engineer. A good shrink might be able to help with your own trust issues. Robert99

I think you are 100 per cent correct abut the list of people who had the skills and knew the 727 could be jumped being very small. And all of them probably had high level security clearances and knew what the letters CIA meant even though their employer of record may have been Southern Air Transport or other such company. Robert99

Some videos from Felix Baumgartner's jump are now available at "http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49465" and include a few seconds of video during the free fall from a camera that appears to be mounted behind his head. Robert99

Klaxon horn sounding. Loudspeaker blares: "Tease Alert Tease Alert. This is not a drill". It must be tough being 007 Jo. So many secrets to protect. Never reveal the whole story. It would be akin to treason. 377 Jo, if you want to spin another story about Duane then please expand on this one. A few days ago, you went to great lengths in a post to state that everyone, except maybe one former wife, really liked Duane and held him in high regard. Okay. If the above is true, then why didn't Duane really like all these people in return. Duane obviously felt that someone really didn't like him since he was still carrying a concealed pistol almost up to the day he died. And he felt it necessary to pack some heat. Robert99