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[georger]

Looks too coarse to me, but thats a guess since I've never seen parachute rig fabric in such degraded condition. Certainly as manufactured the weaves I have seen are much tighter.

377

Let's consider the expansion contraction cycles from the cold weather of the past 46 years, before we discount it as a nylon textile, even if it looks much more like a canvas bag remnant.   
#dicereturns

ok well,  Linear Temperature Expansion Coefficient  (m/(m K))
Nylon thread  = 23/-1 ie very low expansion/retraction.

You got better data?

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You give us a photo of a known nylon parachute fabric of any vintage that looks like the Colbert specimen, due to any cause known to science, contraction, expansion, or whatever ?  Presumably any money found in the same location as this 'weathered' fabric specimen will look like what - gooey mush?

someone post a Pioneer/Steinthaul photo!

[georger]

Ask and receive - thanks to sender  - here is a  Pioneer/Steinthaul the exact type Cooper selected and used.

I see no essential difference in fabrics, from previous posts. Or fabric colors either. You?

[georger]

Fabric crop from the Pioneer/Steinthaul chute just posted ... the type that Cooper used.

[Robert99]

Fabric crop from the Pioneer/Steinthaul chute just posted ... the type that Cooper used.

Within the past 60 seconds, I have again checked a Navy green container for the NB-6 parachute.  This container was manufactured in 1988 while the containers of the parachutes in the 1971 hijacking were probably manufactured about 1960, plus or minus five years.

There is nothing on the 1988 container that could end up looking like the "strap" previously discussed.

[dice]

IF THE GLOVES DONT FIT YOU MUST AQUIT! 

Look !!! Let's not run aquiver here !!! Dan Cooper the comic character wasn't from Aquitaine in France !!! And the aquitards between Vancouver Lake and Tena Bar, are relevant !!! 

[dice]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

[Robert99]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

Nope.  I'm sticking with the "burlap bag" theory.

In addition to the NB-6 post above, which is about three posts above this one, I want to add that I owned an NB-6 parachute until about November 1, 1971 or just about a month before the Cooper hijacking.

My 1971 NB-6 parachute was assembled in conjunction with a parachute rigger.  I needed that particular parachute because it could be packed in a very thin container.  And I used that as an emergency parachute in an aircraft with a very cramped cockpit.

Under the supervision of my rigger, I removed all extraneous straps, metal stiffeners, and everything else that wasn't absolutely necessary.  The end result was a somewhat flexible parachute that could be worn in cramped cockpits, with a reasonable degree of comfort, for non-stop flights lasting more than six hours.

So I got a good look at everything that was in a pre-1971 manufactured NB-6 parachute.  And there is nothing in an NB-6 that will translate into the "strap" shown in the pictures posted on this subject.   

[georger]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

All speculations - show us any parachute nylon fabric that matches the Colbert sample. Document its circumstances. That should be easy if such exists ... in this world.  Prove your claims! Prove Cooper did what you claim he 'might have done'! 

Prove the Colbert sample has anything to do with DB Cooper and is not just some piece of trash found at the "lumber farm" site (full of lots of trash) where the object was found! Not all trash found on the planet relates to DB Cooper, even in the proposed landing zone area.

BTW, TC has provided almost no information about the find site/circumstances. Can you shed light on this?

[Kermit]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

I'm a odds type person who last week bought one ticket on Justin Thomas at 25/1 and cashed my wager. Just a few days ago I bought Duke at 10/1 to win CBB National Title after they signed Marvin Bagley to their recruiting class. What odds are you giving that The FBI will find Coop's loot in Tom Colbert's secret dig location ? We might have some fun action here 👍

[Shutter]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

the money is supposed to be buried in the same location, so why would he make something to carry the money? plus he already had the money bundled....

[georger]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

the money is supposed to be buried in the same location, so why would he make something to carry the money? plus he already had the money bundled....

I want to know more (lots more) about this socalled "lumber farm" where all of this is happening. Can anyone illuminate the "lumber farm" ?

[georger]

A fabric made from nylon does not degrade enough over time to lose the weave spacing that was inherent to that fabric in the beginning

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached, as in say, cut by Cooper while making a makeshift pack for the money, then it will fray, just like the picture shows it doing. And over 46 years it'll slowly de-textile itself.  I wouldn't take a bet here on even money, but I would definitely take odds here, that TC's find is nylon, and with all swearing it cannot be nylon, I'd figure its at least 6 to 1.  If it were a cotton canvas, I'd expect much more dissolvement, being organic.   Any takers ?

Hold on there Dr. If all sides of any textile were breached

I dont want to bypass this because in fact you have a point of sorts: imho you were closer to making a point when you brought up  'contraction/expansion' ... as a product of weathering in the humid conditions in Washington. The primary issue I see is water and does nylon absorb water? How does nylon (thread) react with long term exposure to water, freezing, thawing, hot weather, etc. Could nylon parachute fabric react after 46 years exposure in those conditions, to produce the object Colbert has produced. In my opinion the answer is 'no'. The basic issue is 'absorption' of water by nylon. Everything I have found says that nylon absorbs and releases water molecules then returns to original shape - essentially. That is one of the virtues of nylon vs. biodegradable threads. But, I recognise the issue. If you have something better please present it. Showing some documented examples of deteriorated parachute nylon would help. Be sure to include - the documentation.

One exception I did find was deterioration of parachute nylon exposed to pesticide Deet.

However, the issue is on the table.

I will note: Colbert made no attempt to send me a piece of his fabric for testing here! That could have been done with ease. There are people here who have worked at Quantico. Tom could have sent us a piece of his fabric for testing here! Alas, he did not. 

   

[377]

If the rig was dumped there, there has to be some very unique metal parts there as well. I am sceptical about the fabric strip being of parachute rig origin but I am keeping an open mind. The weave just looks too coarse to me and why would DBC cut off the pin cover flap from the container?  That mod doesn't really accomplish anything that he needed. If it turns out that the fabric is not from a rig, that doesn't disprove TC's Cessna escape theory. I just think it would be super hard to successfully plan a landing and pickup spot at night, especially when you are not directly in control of the 727 flight path.  That said, McCoy managed to land fairly close to home, hide his loot and escape undetected from his landing area.

377

[georger]

If the rig was dumped there, there has to be some very unique metal parts there as well. I am sceptical about the fabric strip being of parachute rig origin but I am keeping an open mind. The weave just looks too coarse to me and why would DBC cut off the pin cover flap from the container?  That mod doesn't really accomplish anything that he needed. If it turns out that the fabric is not from a rig, that doesn't disprove TC's Cessna escape theory. I just think it would be super hard to successfully plan a landing and pickup spot at night, especially when you are not directly in control of the 727 flight path.  That said, McCoy managed to land fairly close to home, hide his loot and escape undetected from his landing area.

377

I am squarely focused on the fabric itself. All other considerations are speculation..

And, where is the proposed money specimens buried there?

Colbert rushed to press BEFORE vetting his find ...... WHICH IS HIS REAL MISSION! 

[Kermit]

I'm going to remove myself from this whole bizarre tale until Cooper's loot is found at Tom Colbert's secret location. In any Math problem, IF Any part of the formula is untrue, the entire result is bogus. There are so many impossibilities presented in this tale that I'm out of the discussion unless someone needs my input for some reason.