Clues, Documents And Evidence About The Case

[Kermit]

I do think Cooper intended to jump shortly after takeoff. Can you imagine his anxiety as that opportunity quickly passed? Everything was changing and his control of the situation was vanishing.

I prefer leisurely flights when I jump. I miss the slow rides up in DC 3s and heavily loaded Twin Beeches. I occasionally slumbered during the long rides. Once, at the World Free Fall Convention I dozed off in a slow climbing DC 3. Half an hour later, as we turned onto jump run, I was jolted awake by a gorgeous Japanese women jumper giving me a wet kiss and yelling “my husband is coming, you have to leave right now”. Laughter erupted as I bolted upright and stumbled towards the door. For the rest of the week jumpers would shout “my husband is coming” when they saw me. Embarrassing.

377

Although I usually agree with your opinions, I will respectfully disagree on your opinion that Cooper intended to bail shortly after takeoff and I’ll give 3 reasons.
1. Bailing shortly after takeoff in a urban area would have almost certainly led to his capture ! 
2. Cooper knew plane could be flown with stairs down. The longer period the stairs are down, the greater the search area ! Irregardless of the bump and Oscillations, we must remember that the FBI wasn’t certain if he might still be aboard plane when it landed in Reno !
3. Perhaps most important is his caper originated in Portland, Oregon. It’s very possible his escape vehicle might be somewhere close to PDX. Also far better chance to bail in a more rural area with far less chance of being seen ! It’s quite clear nobody saw him bail. JMHO !

[georger]

I do think Cooper intended to jump shortly after takeoff. Can you imagine his anxiety as that opportunity quickly passed? Everything was changing and his control of the situation was vanishing.

I prefer leisurely flights when I jump. I miss the slow rides up in DC 3s and heavily loaded Twin Beeches. I occasionally slumbered during the long rides. Once, at the World Free Fall Convention I dozed off in a slow climbing DC 3. Half an hour later, as we turned onto jump run, I was jolted awake by a gorgeous Japanese women jumper giving me a wet kiss and yelling “my husband is coming, you have to leave right now”. Laughter erupted as I bolted upright and stumbled towards the door. For the rest of the week jumpers would shout “my husband is coming” when they saw me. Embarrassing.

377

Although I usually agree with your opinions, I will respectfully disagree on your opinion that Cooper intended to bail shortly after takeoff and I’ll give 3 reasons.
1. Bailing shortly after takeoff in a urban area would have almost certainly led to his capture ! 
2. Cooper knew plane could be flown with stairs down. The longer period the stairs are down, the greater the search area ! Irregardless of the bump and Oscillations, we must remember that the FBI wasn’t certain if he might still be aboard plane when it landed in Reno !
3. Perhaps most important is his caper originated in Portland, Oregon. It’s very possible his escape vehicle might be somewhere close to PDX. Also far better chance to bail in a more rural area with far less chance of being seen ! It’s quite clear nobody saw him bail. JMHO !

agree with all of these -

The fact everyone ignores is he couldnt get the door open when he wanted - in any event. If he had intended to bail early he would have taken steps to make sure the door was open and the stairs available. You cant bail early through a closed hole!  Especially a hole you havent even tried to open yet. Dawning the chute early without making sure the back portal is open at the same time, is  meaningless.

[Robert99]

I do think Cooper intended to jump shortly after takeoff. Can you imagine his anxiety as that opportunity quickly passed? Everything was changing and his control of the situation was vanishing.

I prefer leisurely flights when I jump. I miss the slow rides up in DC 3s and heavily loaded Twin Beeches. I occasionally slumbered during the long rides. Once, at the World Free Fall Convention I dozed off in a slow climbing DC 3. Half an hour later, as we turned onto jump run, I was jolted awake by a gorgeous Japanese women jumper giving me a wet kiss and yelling “my husband is coming, you have to leave right now”. Laughter erupted as I bolted upright and stumbled towards the door. For the rest of the week jumpers would shout “my husband is coming” when they saw me. Embarrassing.

377

Although I usually agree with your opinions, I will respectfully disagree on your opinion that Cooper intended to bail shortly after takeoff and I’ll give 3 reasons.
1. Bailing shortly after takeoff in a urban area would have almost certainly led to his capture ! 
2. Cooper knew plane could be flown with stairs down. The longer period the stairs are down, the greater the search area ! Irregardless of the bump and Oscillations, we must remember that the FBI wasn’t certain if he might still be aboard plane when it landed in Reno !
3. Perhaps most important is his caper originated in Portland, Oregon. It’s very possible his escape vehicle might be somewhere close to PDX. Also far better chance to bail in a more rural area with far less chance of being seen ! It’s quite clear nobody saw him bail. JMHO !

agree with all of these -

The fact everyone ignores is he couldnt get the door open when he wanted - in any event. If he had intended to bail early he would have taken steps to make sure the door was open and the stairs available. You cant bail early through a closed hole!  Especially a hole you havent even tried to open yet. Dawning the chute early without making sure the back portal is open at the same time, is  meaningless.

Georger, for your theory to work, you have to ignore the simple fact that Cooper wanted to take off with the aft stairs down (apparently meaning unlocked).  He had an argument with Rataczak over this point and Rataczak claimed that the they could not take off with the aft stairs down (apparently meaning locked down).  Cooper finally agreed to take off with the stairs up simply to get the airliner inbound.  But Cooper then told Tina that he knew they could take off with the stairs down.   

[Shutter]

Perhaps, Cooper thought if the stairs were down they wouldn't detect his departure?

[georger]

I do think Cooper intended to jump shortly after takeoff. Can you imagine his anxiety as that opportunity quickly passed? Everything was changing and his control of the situation was vanishing.

I prefer leisurely flights when I jump. I miss the slow rides up in DC 3s and heavily loaded Twin Beeches. I occasionally slumbered during the long rides. Once, at the World Free Fall Convention I dozed off in a slow climbing DC 3. Half an hour later, as we turned onto jump run, I was jolted awake by a gorgeous Japanese women jumper giving me a wet kiss and yelling “my husband is coming, you have to leave right now”. Laughter erupted as I bolted upright and stumbled towards the door. For the rest of the week jumpers would shout “my husband is coming” when they saw me. Embarrassing.

377

Although I usually agree with your opinions, I will respectfully disagree on your opinion that Cooper intended to bail shortly after takeoff and I’ll give 3 reasons.
1. Bailing shortly after takeoff in a urban area would have almost certainly led to his capture ! 
2. Cooper knew plane could be flown with stairs down. The longer period the stairs are down, the greater the search area ! Irregardless of the bump and Oscillations, we must remember that the FBI wasn’t certain if he might still be aboard plane when it landed in Reno !
3. Perhaps most important is his caper originated in Portland, Oregon. It’s very possible his escape vehicle might be somewhere close to PDX. Also far better chance to bail in a more rural area with far less chance of being seen ! It’s quite clear nobody saw him bail. JMHO !

agree with all of these -

The fact everyone ignores is he couldnt get the door open when he wanted - in any event. If he had intended to bail early he would have taken steps to make sure the door was open and the stairs available. You cant bail early through a closed hole!  Especially a hole you havent even tried to open yet. Dawning the chute early without making sure the back portal is open at the same time, is  meaningless.

Georger, for your theory to work, you have to ignore the simple fact that Cooper wanted to take off with the aft stairs down (apparently meaning unlocked).  He had an argument with Rataczak over this point and Rataczak claimed that the they could not take off with the aft stairs down (apparently meaning locked down).  Cooper finally agreed to take off with the stairs up simply to get the airliner inbound.  But Cooper then told Tina that he knew they could take off with the stairs down.

In order to bail early he must have door open and stairs down or hanging. He let these issues hang to be solved later.

I suppose you can say he was forced to wait but wanted to bail early. I can only look at what he did - I dont read minds!  Its all conjecture in any event.

[Dfs346]

Here are Dan Gryder's three latest YouTube videos in which he brings up D. B.Cooper:



(roughly at 3m45s through 5m30s):

In the third of these, Mr Gryder says inter alia that:
* he (alone) knows who D. B. Cooper was (or is)
* he has recorded a podcast with Darren Schaefer for The Cooper Vortex
* he is planning a parachute jump at the spot where (he believes) D. B. Cooper jumped.

[Parrotheadvol]

Thanks for posting this. I'm glad to see Dan somewhat back in the Vortex. I don't know if Darren remembers this or not, but I spoke with him a little over a year ago when he was trying to get me to do his podcast and I made two suggestions to him for future podcasts. One was Safecracking PLF, who he had on earlier this year, and the other was Dan Gryder. Most of us probably remember Dan, but for those who do not, he was on the DZ probably around the time that LD Cooper was the flavor of the week, maybe a little later. Dan had shot a video in a bank, with a stack of money on a table in front of him, and said that he would soon reveal who DB Cooper really was. Soon after that, he left the vortex and that video soon disappeared from Youtube. I always thought his suspect to be McCoy. So, it's good to see that Dan will be on the podcast.

It was cool to see and hear Marla sing. I play a little bit of bass guitar myself, so I always have an appreciation for the musical side of people, especially those who sing. I've always said that there are two things that I cannot do, and singing is both of them.

[Robert99]

I do think Cooper intended to jump shortly after takeoff. Can you imagine his anxiety as that opportunity quickly passed? Everything was changing and his control of the situation was vanishing.

I prefer leisurely flights when I jump. I miss the slow rides up in DC 3s and heavily loaded Twin Beeches. I occasionally slumbered during the long rides. Once, at the World Free Fall Convention I dozed off in a slow climbing DC 3. Half an hour later, as we turned onto jump run, I was jolted awake by a gorgeous Japanese women jumper giving me a wet kiss and yelling “my husband is coming, you have to leave right now”. Laughter erupted as I bolted upright and stumbled towards the door. For the rest of the week jumpers would shout “my husband is coming” when they saw me. Embarrassing.

377

Although I usually agree with your opinions, I will respectfully disagree on your opinion that Cooper intended to bail shortly after takeoff and I’ll give 3 reasons.
1. Bailing shortly after takeoff in a urban area would have almost certainly led to his capture ! 
2. Cooper knew plane could be flown with stairs down. The longer period the stairs are down, the greater the search area ! Irregardless of the bump and Oscillations, we must remember that the FBI wasn’t certain if he might still be aboard plane when it landed in Reno !
3. Perhaps most important is his caper originated in Portland, Oregon. It’s very possible his escape vehicle might be somewhere close to PDX. Also far better chance to bail in a more rural area with far less chance of being seen ! It’s quite clear nobody saw him bail. JMHO !

agree with all of these -

The fact everyone ignores is he couldnt get the door open when he wanted - in any event. If he had intended to bail early he would have taken steps to make sure the door was open and the stairs available. You cant bail early through a closed hole!  Especially a hole you havent even tried to open yet. Dawning the chute early without making sure the back portal is open at the same time, is  meaningless.

Georger, for your theory to work, you have to ignore the simple fact that Cooper wanted to take off with the aft stairs down (apparently meaning unlocked).  He had an argument with Rataczak over this point and Rataczak claimed that the they could not take off with the aft stairs down (apparently meaning locked down).  Cooper finally agreed to take off with the stairs up simply to get the airliner airborne.  But Cooper then told Tina that he knew they could take off with the stairs down.

In order to bail early he must have door open and stairs down or hanging. He let these issues hang to be solved later.

I suppose you can say he was forced to wait but wanted to bail early. I can only look at what he did - I dont read minds!  Its all conjecture in any event.

To repeat, it has been discussed on this forum, DropZone, in several books, and elsewhere, that Cooper wanted to take off with the stairs down.  Of course he is not going to bail to with the stairs up.  There is no conjecture here.