Howdy, unrelated to the current parachute debate (popular topic, very ensuring) I wanted to share a fascinating article that I recently uncovered digging through old Canadian newspapers. Please note the denomination demanded by the hijack suspect. This was a mere two weeks before our friend gave a salute to NWOA.

Bruce.  Did they ever catch whoever murdered Cossey?  Or learn why?  Who robs a parachute company? For what?

Nope. Not as far as I know. The last I heard was that the Cossey homicide had been bumped to the Major Case Squad of the King County Sheriff's Office. Nor has the motivation for the murder been uncovered.

As for robbing a parachute company, I don't know what you are referring to.

I have been trying to learn a little bit about Benzedrine based on the report that Cooper had offered
it to the flight crew. What is Benzedrine ? What was it used for ?  When was it used ? What can it tell us, if anything, about him ?

Below is just a summary of what a quick internet search yielded in my own words, it's not definitive of-course.

Benzedrine is part of the Amphetamine family of drugs.  These drugs are a central nervous system stimulant.  Amphetamine was discovered ~1887.  It came into use around ~1932 as a decongestant.  It is habit forming and has negative long term health effects.

After learning that the Nazis were using amphetamines (Pervitin) during WW2 to remain alert and focused during long bombing missions,
the Allied forces tested Benzadrine and began issuing it to troops by 1942.  They also found that it changed the mood and
the way that the soldiers fought, it made troops less fearful, more purposeful and confident.  While it wasn't issued exclusively
to one branch of military, it did seem to be initially issued to pilots on long missions.

After WW2, Benzadrine began to be used for weight loss, depression and other maladies (many house wives of the time were apparently
on it for weight loss). Early on, a prescription wasn't necessary, but by the 1960s, due to the dangers of drug, a prescription was
required.

While Benzedrine was in wide use from the early 1930s through the 1970 time frame, it seems as though it is mostly
tied to military use during WW2.  Different and more powerful amphetamines were developed and (dextroamphetamine) in use during
Vietnam. I have not found much in regards to it's use in the Korean War.

Does Cooper having Benzedrine tell us anything about him or his background ?

It tells us that he was a aware of it, had prior exposure to it, and thought it would be useful for this mission--he anticipated the
need for it.  Therefore, it is another indication that Cooper put some tactical planning into this, it wasn't just an impulsive, poorly thought out
act.  I tend to think it reinforces the military connection and more likely a connection to WW2 or maybe the Korean War rather
than Vietnam.

All caveats apply...speculating, looking at one thing in a vacum...

Perhaps that supports the theory that he really did want to go to Mexico, anticipating a longer flight?

Certainly possible, could also be that:
- he was ready for a long standoff in case the FBI went that route.
- he knew he would be hoofing it out from where ever he might land and needed to be alert for a long period of time in order to get out of dodge.

Part 72 is available:
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Is the consensus that Cooper did not specify the size/denomination of the money?

In part 72, one of the stewardess's says he asked for the money in "small" bills, was wondering if this is anything new or already known.

Thanks Bruce, in some of the past dialogues, Cooper not specifying the denomination was used as a knock against him or his planning, that it was kind of a clue that he didn't fully think it through.  Not sure if this dispels that point fully.   But if it is accurate, maybe it shows that Cooper did kind of cover that base so to speak of the ransom denomination.  This 302 starts on page 20/21 of part 72 for anyone who is interested.

But what exactly did he mean by "small" bills in 1971 ?  Surely, he could not have meant $1s or $5s ?  If they gave him the money in $10s, that would have been a problem size wise also.  $50s and $100s would have been more difficult to pass as they would draw a little more attention.  It seems as though $20 bills was the most practical for the hijacking....so maybe he still did get a little lucky after all to get it in $20s without specifically requesting it.