Interesting posts by avionic engineer Dee Waldron back in 2015: (rear stairs & Cooper survival)Nov 7, 2015 at 5:25am
Quote
Post by Dee Waldron - HJG on Nov 7, 2015 at 5:25am
Personally, I don't think he survived the jump. Actually, knowing what I know based on my experience with the 727, and as an aeronautics engineer... I strongly doubt he could have exited the airplane alive. There's just no way.
But it's a hell of good story!
Dee
Nov 8, 2015 at 1:55am
Quote
Post by Dee Waldron - HJG on Nov 8, 2015 at 1:55am
Yeah Herman, you're on the right track about that video and image. The aircraft has been modified to allow the jumper to safely exit. Now, remember that point.
On that particular version of the 727 (from the actual hijacking), the rear stairs are gravity operated. There are two gas operated "snubbers" that slow the drop down action so it doesn't slam the tarmac when the latch is released. They also make it easier to lift up the stairs to latch the hatchway closed.
>>Would it actually be possible to lower those stairs with the aircraft flying even at minimum flying speed with full flaps???<<
I'm pretty sure the answer is NO. The stairs could be unlatched from inside, but I am of the opinion that the slipstream would prevent the stairs from opening. However, Cooper's extra weight on the stairs as he tried to crawl out may have opened it just enough for him to get sucked out into the rear draft (the low pressure bubble behind any aircraft). IMHO, that is where he met his demise. I just can't for the life of me, see how he could have survived that.
After that hijacking, many 727s had their rear stairs fitted with a simple mod popularly know as the "Cooper Vane". This little aerodynamic generator kept the stairs firmly closed, even if it was unlatched in flight.
The Cooper hijacking, along with Eastern's ghost story and the comedy movie "Airplane" were the most talked about subjects in the coffee break rooms during my years at AA.
You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login
Bravo posts about CIA missions with the 727:BravoOne
Posts: 4094
• #17
6 years ago
An interesting experiment was done by the US Army with CIA oversight where they removed the cabin to stairway door (AKA refrigerator door) and had jumpers launch off the stairway in flight. At about 140Kts, flaps 20 you could get about four guys on the stairway and it would float in an open position with enough stability to launch the guys safely or at least within the acceptable risk zone. The problem of course was when the stairway only had one or two guys on it the tendency for it to drift up became problematic. I saw this done with a ATA 727 and later saw good film footage made using a Pan Am 727-100 filmed from both inside and outside the aircraft.
The ATA flights were done down in Marana. Don't know where the Pan Am flights occurred or if this was ever put to use. Very risky business when involve airliners in military ops IMO.
You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login