"muff528" wrote in message
news:_XhGj.3186$N_5.458@trnddc05...


Perhaps he survived the jump, but succommed to the elements?
....
I never had the opportunity to jump the jet at the World Free Fall
Convention but friends who did say that the exit from the 727 rear steps
into the relative wind is awesome. Even in controlled situations like this
the airspeed of the plane is substantially higher than normal
jump-run/exit speeds and provides for an unexpected surprise to a jumper
who tries it for the first time. My guess is that Cooper (wearing 1971-era
equipment and a 25 lb sack of money) became unstable immediately after he
stepped out and simply lost the bag. He then likely opened his parachute
and began kicking himself in the butt and uttering a variety of expletives
all the way to the ground. Speculating further about the recently found
gear........Maybe the coyotes, buzzards and sasquatches just don't like
nylon!

As well, didn't he jump at something like 15,000 feet? In November, in that
area, the temps had to be well below 0F. Also, did he NOT ask for special
clothing that would have helped him survive?

It was November in the Pacific Northwest, and Cooper was dressed in a normal
suit (IIRC). If he did survive the jump, he died shortly after landing of
exposure. Quite likely the carnivores had him for dinner.