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[Bruce A. Smith]

Norman, nor anyone else has ever mentioned "Navy" when it comes to his Steinthaul. All I know is that Norman's parachutes were 26-foot conicals. Yes, I know Steinthaul made parachutes for civilian use and the military, but whether Norman had any of those latter chutes, I don't know and I doubt that he does either.

Also unknown is where Norman bought them. He couldn't remember where he purchased them when we spoke at his shop. Later, he reported told other researchers that he bought them from a used aviation supply house.

Clarifying these issues could be difficult. Norman refuses to talk with me, and doesn't respond to his emails. Nor do his family members respond, even though they have posted commentaries on the Mountain News.

[377]

There are no other viable candidates for 26 ft Conicals in that era other than 26 ft Navy Conicals. They were FAA OK'd as emergency chutes which is why we could use them as legal reserve canopies.

377

[Shutter]

Bruce, check your email...a media source is trying to get a hold of you for an interview tomorrow....

The Morning Dose, the nationally syndicated live tv morning show.

[Bruce A. Smith]

Thanks.

I'll be getting three minutes of air time to discuss the Colbert evidence - at 5:20 am my time!. Whew. Basic theme: I'm excited by the evidence but highly skeptical.

[MeyerLouie]

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Citizen sleuths search for Trump dirt.

377

That's what I like about you 377, that passive aggressive demeanor that comes out every once in a while.  You're so subtle -- that little dig at me last time about me flaunting my level of education to disparage someone on the forum, and now your inappropriate but subtle political dig at Trump.  Stick with parachutes and legal-ese, those are your strong suits.

Actually the reason I posted it Meyer was to show new uses for citizen sleuths, in this case looking for Trump stuff. I think crowd sourcing of cold case investigations holds real promise. So many unsolved murders that could be solved if enough resources were made available. Larry Carr was a pioneer. One needn't be passive aggressive about slamming Trump. It's everywhere. Just listen to the news or pick up a paper. He is right, the press is biased. I don't like him one bit but I sure agree with him on that.

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Save your political views for somewhere else.  So, you think it's okay to slam Trump because everyone else does?  Hmmmm....gotta leave it there....this is not the right place to talk politics.

[Bruce A. Smith]

A question: Has the FBI reopened Norjak? The on-air personality at Morning Dose framed her first question to me around that notion. Other than that, it was short and sweet: mostly, what I think of the foam that has been found in Washington. I said I was excited but skeptical. Then they asked me if I thought DB Cooper survived, and I said it is very possible.

Technically, it was very difficult to participate in a converation as I couldn't hear myself most of the time, and when I could I was on a few-second delay.

Also had to get up and sound intelligent at 5:45 am, too. Whew.

Regardless, I was honored to be asked. Thanks, Shut, for putting this together.

[377]

Sounds like a rational dialogue Bruce. If you can find an online clip of your interview post a link here. I, like you,  am hopeful but sceptical. If a rig was dumped there, should be a lot of unique metal parts amidst the remains. So far none have been found. One easy thing I wish they'd do right now is measure the foam piece. Is it consistent with back pad dimensions? But for now, until a solid forensic analysis shows the foam and or fabric came from a rig, SHOW ME THE METAL. 

Jo claims that Duane knew Rackstraw.

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[georger]

A question: Has the FBI reopened Norjak? The on-air personality at Morning Dose framed her first question to me around that notion. Other than that, it was short and sweet: mostly, what I think of the foam that has been found in Washington. I said I was excited but skeptical. Then they asked me if I thought DB Cooper survived, and I said it is very possible.

Technically, it was very difficult to participate in a converation as I couldn't hear myself most of the time, and when I could I was on a few-second delay.

Also had to get up and sound intelligent at 5:45 am, too. Whew.

Regardless, I was honored to be asked. Thanks, Shut, for putting this together.

what foam?  when are you guys going to share your info here? be sure to include a url...

 

[377]

Foam link: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

377

[377]

TC's latest FOIA materials (sections 5 and 6) have some interesting material. One is an FBI  lab request to analyse cig butts (in ashtray contents) and astoundingly it gives the lab permission to destroy the evidence after completion of tests.

The permission to destroy physical evidence at the conclusion of tests is LEGALLY BAFFLING as it could give cause for dismissal for spoliation of (potentially exculpatory) evidence.

The defence must have an opportunity to independently examine evidence and the prosecution has an obligation to preserve it. It is FUNDAMENTAL to the fair trial process. Law enforcement agency labs make mistakes, a lot more often than you would believe. The defense must have an opportunity to conduct their own tests. That can't be done unless the prosecution preserves and carefully documents the chain of custody of all material evidence.

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377

[377]

Section 5 of TCs latest FOIA materials has a detailed transcript of a a 12/3/71 interview with an experienced skydiver about technical aspects of DBC's jump. I agree with almost all of it.

One exception is smoke jumper exclusion part. The interviewee thinks a smoke jumper wouldn't be a good candidate. I disagree. Pulling a ripcord is different from an SL jump but a non freefall trained smoke jumper could have done a clear and pull (or pull and clear) easily.

We really owe TC for his tenacity in pursuing the FBI FOIA requests. He is relentless.

377

[andrade1812]

Section 5 of TCs latest FOIA materials has a detailed transcript of a a 12/3/71 interview with an experienced skydiver about technical aspects of DBC's jump. I agree with almost all of it.

One exception is smoke jumper exclusion part. The interviewee thinks a smoke jumper wouldn't be a good candidate. I disagree. Pulling a ripcord is different from an SL jump but a non freefall trained smoke jumper could have done a clear and pull (or pull and clear) easily.

We really owe TC for his tenacity in pursuing the FBI FOIA requests. He is relentless.

377

That interview also noted "Oxford Street Shoes" which are a lace-up shoe, not the slip-ons we've talked so much about.

[georger]

Section 5 of TCs latest FOIA materials has a detailed transcript of a a 12/3/71 interview with an experienced skydiver about technical aspects of DBC's jump. I agree with almost all of it.

One exception is smoke jumper exclusion part. The interviewee thinks a smoke jumper wouldn't be a good candidate. I disagree. Pulling a ripcord is different from an SL jump but a non freefall trained smoke jumper could have done a clear and pull (or pull and clear) easily.

We really owe TC for his tenacity in pursuing the FBI FOIA requests. He is relentless.

377

Does Colbert have a forum? For updates & revisions to the DB Cooper Case?

[georger]

We really owe TC for his tenacity in pursuing the FBI FOIA requests. He is relentless.

377

You said the same thing about Robert M Blevins, Grey Cop, Geoff Gray, and many others, and you see where that got everyone?

You have an uncanny ability to confuse motion and media flurry with progress! It's all good! - Well, no it isn't!   

So far, none of these 'Cooperpreneurs' has produced 'one God damned thing' of real value in the DB Cooper case. Meanwhile the case gets older and more confused with every passing day. So far the Narcissists have beaten everyone in the solution of this case!

 

[377]

Georger, as a scientist you must know that even negative experimental results have value.

I disagree with your statement that nothing of real value has been produced. Bruce found valuable chute evidence from Norman. TK and Al scooped the FBI by finding unique metals on the tie. I found evidence that 727s were used for airdrops by a CIA front air carrier and that Boeing conducted government funded airdrop testing on 727s. Snow found the MAC SOG night jump ops which produced some interesting candidates. He also found Sheridan Peterson who was a perfectly qualified candidate but for eye color.  CIA Smoke Jumper connection in SE Asia covert air ops was also a Snow find. Blevins identified an interesting candidate who was a purser, an aircraft mechanic and a paratrooper. Personally I see no logic in an NWA flight crew employee skyjacking a company plane. Even wild claims like Jo's parachuting prison inmate fire fighters  has some value as once it is disproved we can eliminate a category. The History Channel Case Closed special produced the Holy Grail, a Tina interview, and had her look at suspect photos. Sure, none of this has positively ID'd Cooper but it's a process and the info uncovered helps improve it.

Your own find of that TV news footage documenting the chard field totally reversed my thinking about a money plant by Brian's Dad. I was wrong and you helped me see the light.

Where did I heap any praise on Grey Cop? I recall hitting him pretty hard about wild unsubstantiated claims and flat out lies.

TC has done us all a huge favor by taking on the FBI and making them comply with the law on FOIA requests. His mega-sociopath candidate is a fascinating person with all the skills needed to have pulled off Norjack. I still see Rackstraw's age as a barrier.

I see the world through an optimistic filter. I like most people, including Blevins, Jo and everyone here. Maybe that skews my critical thinking and reduces my effectiveness as a Cooper sleuth but it makes for a pretty happy life.

I am jumping this weekend at Tracy CA, a new DZ for me. Grateful as hell to still be in this wild sport after half a century of jumping.

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