Paul Cini didn't jump
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In September 1970, while downing shots of vodka in his Victoria, British Columbia, apartment, Cini had watched a television news segment about a failed hijacking for ransom. In the midst of the story, his alcohol-fuzzed mind somehow managed to produce a eureka moment: The best way for a hijacker to escape justice was not to fly abroad, but rather to jump from the plane.

Cini boarded Flight 812 in Calgary with a bag containing everything he thought he would need to pull off the hijacking and then survive in the wilderness after jumping from the plane: a sawed-off shotgun, dynamite, a sheepskin rope, a collapsible shovel, a pup tent, candy bars, hiking boots, and a dark-blue parachute wrapped in a paper bag. After downing several Screwdrivers, he brandished the weapons and announced that he was a member of the Irish Republican Army who would blow up the DC-8 unless he was given $1.5 million and passage to Ireland. The plane landed in Great Falls, Mont., where Cini received all the cash that Air Canada could muster on short notice-a mere $50,000. Unlike fellow hijacker Arthur Gates Barkley, who had freaked out when TWA shorted him by $99,899,250, Cini didn't mind the lesser ransom.

The DC-8 was en route back to Calgary to refuel when Cini told the crew to open one of the emergency exits so he could jump to freedom. But try as he might, Cini couldn't undo the twine that he had used to wrap his parachute-the knot was too tight, especially for a man whose fine motor skills were impaired by copious amounts of liquor.

The frustrated Cini asked one of the pilots to lend him a sharp instrument to cut free his parachute. When the pilot offered him the DC-8's fire ax, Cini absentmindedly laid down his shotgun to accept it. Seeing that the hijacker was now unarmed, the pilot kicked away the shotgun and grabbed Cini by the throat. Another crew member took the ax and smashed it into Cini's head, fracturing his skull.

Wow!
They had Richards Llewellyn ("Dix") Loesch on the Boeing airstairs/air drop team
They misspelled his last name in the FBI memo (they spelled it Leosch)
They have his nickname right: Dix

He was a kickass Boeing test pilot. Long history at Boeing.
He was with Tex Johnston on the first flight of the Dash 80!

On July 15, 1954, Chief Test Pilot Tex Johnston, along with co-pilot Richard L. "Dix" Loesch, took the Dash 80 on its first flight. He later became the Chief of Flight Test during the development and first flights of the 727, 737 and 747.

The relationship, or influence of Paul Cini upon Dan Cooper has not been explored very deeply. It could turn up some interesting information.

I believe Paul Cini is still alive living in Calgary AB...

Post removed.

Not relevant to DB Cooper.

727 Airstairs...

On several occasions ------------- extended the rear stairs while in flight. This was done at speeds of approximately 150 knots.

I wonder if Cossey might have been a "pencil packer"? These are unscrupulous riggers who don't actually open chutes for inspection and repack, they just make a logbook entry saying it was done and pocket the inspection and repack fee for a minute of pencil work and the application of a new seal. Believe me, such shady practices did exist. In most cases, nothing bad would happen, providing that the prior job was done right. If Cossey were a "pencil packer" he might have no first-hand familiarity with what canopies were inside the rigs.

Even the FAA acknowledges that pencil packing exits and warns against it.
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Pencil packing had an analog in aircraft maintenance where shady shops would certify that time-limited aircraft components had been overhauled. They would verify that they worked, perhaps make minor repairs such as installing new commutator brushes in electric motors, steam clean and repaint them but do no teardown much less a full overhaul. As the jet age progressed and old propliners were relegated to hauling cargo and drugs, the cost of complying with numerous FAA overhaul rules became daunting. Many of these propliners operated out of a section of the Miami Airport popularly known as Corrosion Corner. For a cash payment and a wink and a nod, some of the Miami shops certified components as overhauled and airworthy. These became known as "Miami Paper Overhauls".

Unless the NB 6 container was extended, a 26 ft Navy Conical is the most likely canopy to have been inside. Packing a 28 ft C9 in an NB6 would be REALLY difficult and would result in a rig with a dangerously hard pull. Not even sure the FAA approved extended NB6 containers for emergency rigs. I dimly recall something about Norman having bought two identical canopies at a surplus store. Bruce, do you know? If that's true would the canopy in the rig now residing at the WA History Museum tell us what the jumped canopy was?

Great find on the fascinating 727 airstairs docs Snow.

377

Cooper trivia:
I suppose old news, but interesting.

Recently, there's been a case where the pilot (Jim Bob Slocum) of a 727 jumped (with a parachute) out of the ventral airstairs opening, leaving no one inside flying the plane.

pictures attached. Looks like airstairs were removed
The helmeted "people" in the seats, were test dummies.

hmm..I wonder what the flaps are at, in the picture attached

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Cooper trivia:
I suppose old news, but interesting.

Recently, there's been a case where the pilot (Jim Bob Slocum) of a 727 jumped (with a parachute) out of the ventral airstairs opening, leaving no one inside flying the plane.

pictures attached. Looks like airstairs were removed
The helmeted "people" in the seats, were test dummies.

hmm..I wonder what the flaps are at, in the picture attached

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Ventral stairs removed,,