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All of that said, there is no reason to believe that the dummy was marked as such in any manner whatsoever. There is not a single description in the FBI files that denotes any markings at all.

That would be extremely unprofessional for a business to have a training chute available for someone to pickup and use. it is only mentioned in the 302's as an inoperable chute. another document describes the front pack including markings on the container. I think it's highly possible no dummy chute was given. we hear it straight from jumpers stating they are marked one way or another. I would certainly agree with this since it would be extremely dangerous to have lying around unmarked. Dudeman is not the only one who has mentioned this..

The only person stating this is Cossey and he wasn't there.

Does it really matter, since as stated above no "documented facts" are available to even decide? People's opinions are just "opinions" and nothing more.

Several facts are apparent: (a) the chute was not on the plane at Reno, (b) Cooper did not complain about it being a dud, (c) Cooper was not seen opening that chute and stripping it for cord, or using it as a money bag (d) Emerick supplied the chute for some reason, (e) there is no documented interview with Emerick by anyone - that's just another claim!, (f) no crew notes or interviews mention a chute with a red X ?       

Do Smith and Cook claim to have interviewed Emerick too ?

My feeling is even if there were an FBI 302 that stated the chute had a RED X, there would be people claiming that's a lie! The whole history of this case is facts being challenged and dismissed . . . to support people's agendas. That's the climate we are in! 

For me, what is increasingly more important is that this Dummy Chute stuff started with Cossey; as has been noted, he wasn't there.

More intriguing, it seems that Coss initiated the contact with the FBI, "arriving" at Seattle FBI FO on Monday, I believe. 11. 29. 71.

I wonder why.

We don't seem to have a second ripcord in the plane. this would suggest Cooper knew exactly how to take the chutes apart or never touched the second chute.

This is a good observation that has never occurred to me. DBC either didn't pull the cord, or he did pull the cord and took the handle with him.

For me, what is increasingly more important is that this Dummy Chute stuff started with Cossey; as has been noted, he wasn't there.

More intriguing, it seems that Coss initiated the contact with the FBI, "arriving" at Seattle FBI FO on Monday, I believe. 11. 29. 71.

I wonder why.

I remember seeing 302 documentation that the FBI were trying to get in contact with Cossey on the evening of November 25th (Thanksgiving Day) but were unable to do so.  Cossey was apparently out of town that day.  Then Cossey returned the FBI calls about 1:00 AM on November 26th after getting back in town.  Presumably they set up a meeting in those early morning calls.

ADDENDUM:  I see that FJ has posted an FBI memo with more information on this point on DropZone.

Good find. Thanks, G.

Im going thru all of the files - slowly! Cataloging the whole thing - argh!      FJ is doing likewise ... he's ahead of me...

The document surrounding the statement of "white material" is full of error's...they seem to get things backwards. the open reserve had a pinkish canopy. this document states it was white and the back pack having the pink canopy which is also incorrect.

There are a handful of statements that support my thoughts about the bank bag and the dummy reserve.

First, witnesses that saw the money bag being brought onboard the jet describe it as about "1' by 2'" in size.

Second, we do have the dimensions of the money and from there can measure its cubic space (the volume it occupied).

Third, Cooper himself complained he would have to use a parachute to pack the money (NOTE: The next size up bank bag is about 3' tall, meaning if that bag was used there would have been a significant amount of excess bag at the top to cinch and there would have been absolutely no reason for Cooper to complain he would need to use a parachute to store the money).

Fourth, Tina witnessed him wrapping or attempting to put the money in one of the reserves. Now she may have assumed it was the pink parachute and been wrong about that. Or, perhaps Cooper tried using the pink parachute and abandoned the idea only to use the white dummy reserve after she was in the cockpit.

Fifth, the pics I displayed showing the bank bag sitting next to the reserve doesn't adequately capture the size difference. If I had to guess I would say the volume of the bank bag is double the volume of the reserve. This is plainly obvious when holding the two and looking at them side-by-side in person.

Sixth, the FBI documents do mention a "white material." Perhaps it's an error, perhaps it isn't.

Seventh, the dummy reserve is gone. Why?

Finally, I suspect--taking an educated guess--that DBC opened up the dummy reserve and wrapped the excess twenties, attache' case, and perhaps some other smaller items (yellow bag he boarded with, notes, etc) into the white canopy and used some of the shroud lines he cut from the genuine reserve to secure that "bundle" to his person in some manner. Remember, Cooper cut off 79.6 feet of shroud line from the genuine reserve. That is a lot of cord. Are we to believe it was all used on the money bag alone?

Also, consider that smokejumpers are accustomed to jumping into the forest with chainsaws, shovels, backpacks and all kinds of shit dangling below them. While not easy, it is certainly doable.