In the 302 snippet, what is the 24 foot reference to ?  the canopy ? the lines ?  If it is the canopy, is it a mistake as it seems most of the discussion is around either 26 or 28 foot canopy ?

Someone help me out here. Maybe I'm misinterpreting what I'm reading...

We know that the reserve canopy left on the plane that Coop cut the cord from was pink and was from the "good" reserve, but in this 302 they've got Tina saying that Coop was trying to wrap his money in some white material. Was this the canopy from the "dummy" chute? I always figured that since he couldn't use either of the reserves that he must have cannibalized the "dummy" as well, but unlike the "good reserve", he brought the cannibalized parts of the "dummy" out the door with him. Is this confirmation of that or am I misreading it?

Cooper either just tossed the missing reserve out of the aircraft or jury-rigged it to himself in some fashion.  There is no evidence that he tied it to himself and if he did it would greatly increase the possibility that he would not have a successful opening of the backpack that he took. 

The money bag delivered to him could easily be rigged with the parachute cord missing from the orange reserve to safely secure the money bag (and all the money) to Cooper.  There is no need for further speculation on this point. 

...and if he did it would greatly increase the possibility that he would not have a successful opening of the backpack that he took. 

Why do you say that?

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...and if he did it would greatly increase the possibility that he would not have a successful opening of the backpack that he took. 

Why do you say that?

The airliner was above an overcast and, since the crew reported rain, there were apparently cloud layers above them.  So it was pitch dark when he jumped.  Cooper would not have had any references to help him stabilize.  He could have pulled the ripcord while at the bottom of the stairs but there is nothing to suggest he did so.

If Cooper delayed pulling the ripcord for even a second after leaving the stairs, he would be tumbling and if he had an asymmetrical body load it would be some really bad tumbling.  And if he didn't pull the ripcord, he would be on the ground in somewhere between about 40 seconds and one minute.  If he did have an open canopy, then why wasn't it found unless he landed in an open field.  If he landed in an open field, it would be a miracle and just how many miracles do you get in one jump?

377 has posted on this very subject.  He has jumped on a sunny day with a small radio strapped to one leg.  He reports that he had to make adjustments to compensate for the aerodynamics of that small radio.

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If Cooper delayed pulling the ripcord for even a second after leaving the stairs, he would be tumbling and if he had an asymmetrical body load it would be some really bad tumbling.  And if he didn't pull the ripcord, he would be on the ground in somewhere between about 40 seconds and one minute.  If he did have an open canopy, then why wasn't it found unless he landed in an open field.  If he landed in an open field, it would be a miracle and just how many miracles do you get in one jump?

I've been out of the Cooper loop for a minute. Is there any thought that he may have stood backward on the stairs and pulled the cord while still on the stairs letting the wind catch the chute, thus pulling him out instead of jumping out? Seems like that would have been a gentler way to egress the aircraft.

He could have done that but there is no evidence that he did so.  Other than the money found at Tena Bar, nothing has been found of Cooper following the jump.  If he had an open canopy and landed in a tree, for instance, the parachute would probably be found the next day.  Himmelsbach flew his private aircraft over the supposed jump area looking for a parachute.

He could have done that but there is no evidence that he did so.

There is no evidence of how he left the plane, so I guess it's always going to be speculative.

If he had an open canopy and landed in a tree, for instance, the parachute would probably be found the next day.  Himmelsbach flew his private aircraft over the supposed jump area looking for a parachute.

Looking at Google Earth it seems to me that if he landed in between Ariel and Amboy or if he landed somewhere further southwest near Orchards that he would be just as likely to land in someone's pasture as he would be to get caught in a tree.

According to the latest FBI 302s, they feel Cooper jumped OVER Orchards and landed to the northeast, perhaps in the Hochinson area. It is sweet, rolling dairy country, and was back in the day. A perfect LZ, in my view. A group of us toured the area in 2019 after the CC19.

Bruce, are you suggesting that cows ate Cooper, the parachutes, and the rest of the money?

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According to the latest FBI 302s, they feel Cooper jumped OVER Orchards and landed to the northeast, perhaps in the Hochinson area. It is sweet, rolling dairy country, and was back in the day. A perfect LZ, in my view. A group of us toured the area in 2019 after the CC19.

Bruce, are you suggesting that cows ate Cooper, the parachutes, and the rest of the money?

Hell no. As I have written elsewhere, DB Cooper had either the means to time travel, or had electro-gravitic parachutes that allowed him to fly to his AirBnB along the Oregon coast. As he passed over T-Bar, he threw down FOUR packets of money to throw the FBI off his trail. It worked, obviously.