I really dislike getting into the weeds on this stuff.

The point is Cooper wanted the stairs down upon take-off and relented but indicated that he knew that the jet could indeed take-off with the airstairs deployed. However, he was okay with keeping the airstairs up as long as they were deployed immediately after take-off. Sure it's possible he initially wanted to deploy the airstairs immediately after take-off but it doesn't matter. You're missing the forest through the trees.

Everything indicates Cooper desired to jump shortly after taking off from Seattle. This implies that he planned on being in Seattle during the immediate aftermath. This also dovetails nicely into considerations about his plans if he had to abort the hijacking--specifically, he would have had to deplane in Seattle given it was a one-way ticket. Nonetheless, either course of action has Cooper in Seattle presumably with a plan.

I do not believe Cooper originally planned to jump near Portland. After all, he could not know he was ever going to be near Portland. This is a major problem that has to be explained if one thinks Cooper planned to jump near Portland. Unless, of course, he just rolled the dice and got lucky.

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I really dislike getting into the weeds on this stuff.

The point is Cooper wanted the stairs down upon take-off and relented but indicated that he knew that the jet could indeed take-off with the airstairs deployed. However, he was okay with keeping the airstairs up as long as they were deployed immediately after take-off. Sure it's possible he initially wanted to deploy the airstairs immediately after take-off but it doesn't matter. You're missing the forest through the trees.

Everything indicates Cooper desired to jump shortly after taking off from Seattle. This implies that he planned on being in Seattle during the immediate aftermath. This also dovetails nicely into considerations about his plans if he had to abort the hijacking--specifically, he would have had to deplane in Seattle given it was a one-way ticket. Nonetheless, either course of action has Cooper in Seattle presumably with a plan.

I do not believe Cooper originally planned to jump near Portland. After all, he could not know he was ever going to be near Portland. This is a major problem that has to be explained if one thinks Cooper planned to jump near Portland. Unless, of course, he just rolled the dice and got lucky.

The weeds are the details.. and details are important. It does matter. Cooper initially wanted the Airstairs lowered in flight by Tina and the later Airstairs down on take off discussion was to allow Tina off the plane that doesn't support an intentional immediate jump.

Most of this case and theories are built on assumptions, very few concrete facts.

Those assumptions need to be challenged.

You're free to read it that way. We're just simply going to have to disagree about that. I think Seattle, you think Willamette Valley or Mexico. Fair enough.

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Truth be told ? Really ? You know this to be the truth just exactly how ? You really have no idea nor do I what exactly Cooper was thinking or planning on doing ! As for what to do with his escape vehicle in Portland should he have to abort ? Seems to me that once he gives the ransom note to the Stew, he’s kinda locked into following through or else it’s over for him. If he aborts before he hands the note to Stew, he can do whatever he pleases as he’s committed no crime ! I’m not sure why his attire in Seattle area is far better for him there than in Woodland, Battleground area ? He’s jumping out of a plane with a parachute ! Landing in a populated area on the outskirts of Seattle is far more visible than landing in a remote area like Woodland or Battleground or Orchards !
How did he know he was in the general area around Battleground ? Ask the Pilots how they all saw the Lights of Vancouver and Portland approaching out of their Right window. They either made it up or the visibility was not as dismal as the FBI wanted us to believe it was. What IF they decided to fly over the Pacific ? Well that would have been very risky plan and why should we waste times pondering “ what If the pilot disobeyed Cooper’s order “ ?

Actually I do have an idea of what Cooper was thinking because he said, didn't say, did and didn't do certain things. In light of what I previously stated, isn't it obvious he intended to jump in the outskirts of Seattle?

Actually there is no possible way you or I could actually know what Cooper was thinking for sure ! It isn’t obvious to me I can assure you.
One other thing that doesn’t make sense to me regarding your theory of what SP did.
I was 8 years old when the mighty Columbia river broke through the railroad Dike and gobbled up the entire City of Vanport, Oregon. During the War, Vanport had become the second largest City in Oregon. This happened in 1948 and I recall seeing the Columbia wipe out homes, cars and everything in its Path. Sheridan would have been in his 20’s then so I would assume he was aware of the power and destruction of one of America’s biggest rivers.
So fast forward to 1971 and SP has the equivalent of $ 1.2 Million dollars. So why would an intelligent person bury ALL of his loot in the Sandy banks of the flood prone banks of the Columbia river which is a common hangout for Salmon and Steelhead Fisherman ? There are plenty of Woods around but he buries his loot in the river bank ? Also where did he bury the Parachute, briefcase and bag. None of these items were found ! I’m not saying your theory is impossible but please excuse me if I’m not sold on it.

He buried everything on Tena Bar because this is near where he landed. Also, digging in sand is a much easier proposition than earth. Furthermore, freshly disturbed sand is a lot easier to obscure than freshly disturbed earth.

Unless he's worried about the 100-year-flood coming along on November 25, 1971 exactly, or perhaps sometime during that week, I'm sure he wasn't too concerned about the money being swept away.

He later retrieved everything, that is why nothing has been found.

Allegedly of course !

Yes, this is my theory. Sheridan has not said this is what happened.

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I really dislike getting into the weeds on this stuff.

The point is Cooper wanted the stairs down upon take-off and relented but indicated that he knew that the jet could indeed take-off with the airstairs deployed. However, he was okay with keeping the airstairs up as long as they were deployed immediately after take-off. Sure it's possible he initially wanted to deploy the airstairs immediately after take-off but it doesn't matter. You're missing the forest through the trees.

Everything indicates Cooper desired to jump shortly after taking off from Seattle. This implies that he planned on being in Seattle during the immediate aftermath. This also dovetails nicely into considerations about his plans if he had to abort the hijacking--specifically, he would have had to deplane in Seattle given it was a one-way ticket. Nonetheless, either course of action has Cooper in Seattle presumably with a plan.

I do not believe Cooper originally planned to jump near Portland. After all, he could not know he was ever going to be near Portland. This is a major problem that has to be explained if one thinks Cooper planned to jump near Portland. Unless, of course, he just rolled the dice and got lucky.

The weeds are the details.. and details are important. It does matter. Cooper initially wanted the Airstairs lowered in flight by Tina and the later Airstairs down on take off discussion was to allow Tina off the plane that doesn't support an intentional immediate jump.

Most of this case and theories are built on assumptions, very few concrete facts.

Those assumptions need to be challenged.

You're free to read it that way. We're just simply going to have to disagree about that. I think Seattle, you think Willamette Valley or Mexico. Fair enough.

I assumed the same as you and most everyone, until I carefully read through the FBI docs..

Now, I believe that Cooper initially wanted to jump South of US border. His initial demand was NOT airstairs down as everyone assumed.
He had to change his plan when Reno was in play and most likely jumped near the FBI LZ, but I am also looking at the possibility of the Willamette Valley.

The other problem is that reading the transcripts literally can be misleading. For example, Cooper notifying the flight crew that he wants the airstairs opened after take-off may mean nothing more than he wants the stairs to remain open after take-off not that he actually wants them opened (the verb) after take-off.

Also, the transcript implies that the pilots suggested that the airstairs be partially opened. This makes no-sense, after all, the pilots know the airstairs are gravity operated and cannot be locked half open. It also makes no sense because other documents say that Cooper requested the airstairs be locked in a half open state.

Subsequent interpretations of the transcripts, which themselves are translated, are also prone to have problems. Again, literally interpreting statements is often misleading.

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How did Danny get to the airport before the skyjacking?

My favorite fantasies are:

1. Flew in from Minneapolis after arriving there on 305 from Washington, DC, where he stashed some stuff in the overhead compartments. While 305 was puddle-jumping across Montana, Dan took a direct flight to PDX.

2. Arrived by Zodiak, as per Bill Rollins' scenario, parking his boat in the weeds and walking to the terminal.

3. Got a ride from his extraction team, who then later set up along the I-5 corridor for the rendezvous.

Bruce,

You used the name Danny.. it reminded me of..

Tosaw used the name Daniel? why?
Did Cooper ever use anything other than Dan, as on the ticket?  was the Dan written on the ticket short for Daniel?

I think FBI docs used Dan or Daniel but that may have been a just guess by them.. I'll have to find those again.


Starting at 4:40 in this audio interview - Tosaw said the hijacker gave the name Daniel Cooper to ticket agent.. if so, did the agent just abbreviate it to Dan.

Tosaw quote..
"We don't know his true name, although it very well might be, he could be Dan Cooper incidentally not DB, that was a mix up in the, later on occurred, but Daniel Cooper was the name he gave the ticket agent when he bought his ticket at the airport there in Portland Oregon at the International Airport and it was twenty dollars and they asked him, they said, here is your twenty dollars here is your ticket and so what is your name, he said Daniel Cooper so he got on the plane..."

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So what you are saying is that SP buried his loot in the sand at Tina Bar on Nov 24, 1971 and came back the next day or within a week and dug it up but ACCIDENTLY dropped 3 bundles. The ONLY explanation as to why SP would do something so risky and dangerous is because your theory says that’s what he did. Other than your theory, is there anything to refute that it might have been there a year, 2 years or ? Years ? I just can’t accept a theory as PROOF that SP burrying the equivalent of $1.2 Million on a public beach frequented by Fisherman and a very unpredictable river is certainly questionable!

Yes, that is precisely what I'm saying. I am also saying that the roughly 6K found on Tena Bar had been buried on the beach since November 24, 1971.

My theory is as such:

1) Cooper initially planned to jump near Seattle but missed his opportunity when the cash arrived in an open-top bank bag and the airstairs initially wouldn't deploy.

2) Cooper eventually jumped as the jet entered metro Portland/Vancouver near Tena Bar.

3) Upon landing on or near Tena Bar Cooper buried everything thereby giving him time to get out of the area.

4) Cooper later returned under cover of darkness, most likely within several days, to retrieve everything he buried.

5) During the retrieval process of the money bag--again which is open on top--he lifted the money bag, which was probably laid sideways in the hole, and a few packets of cash fell out and stayed behind in the hole.

6) Eights years later, after significant beach erosion, the once buried packets are unearthed but obviously in a decayed state after eight years.

While anything is possible, I don't see that scenario supported by evidence or reason. Some speculation is needed and beneficial but too much speculation there, IMO.

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It does make sense, the pilots wanted to get Tina off the plane, take off with stairs partially open would achieve that.

The 302's are agent summaries which are less reliable than the pilot transcripts.

Read that pilot transcript..  carefully,, it is the most accurate for order of events

Just because you say something doesn't make it true.

Consider the path of a transcript:

1) Cooper makes demand to Tina.

2) Tina relays demand to Florence via airphone.

3) Florence writes down and relays demand to pilots.

4) Pilots relay demand via radio to 3rd party who provides the patch through to the FBI.

5) 3rd party transcribes the radio communication and passes it on.

Now this process is remarkably more accurate than:

1) Tina, Florence and pilots convey info to FBI during interview.

I'm not buying it. Furthermore, I addressed the phrase about the airstairs being down inflight above. You're taking one piece of a transcript and declaring it accurate but other things that contradict it inaccurate. What do you base this pronouncement upon? How do you know that Cooper didn't use the word 'lowered" (actually "lwrd" in the transcript) as an adjective as opposed to a verb? How do you know that the pilots interpreted the initial Cooper demand via Tina and Florence properly as a verb or an adjective?

This is why I say that these things have to be read carefully, not just literally, and certainly not selectively.