@ $100 per set from EAL. Felix Perry, prepared the Project No. 4-51-37611 “Engineering Request” to gain management approval of fleet installation cost of $7840 total or the 56 aircraft with the detailed cost of $100 for parts and 4 man hours for installation per ship. Imagine the cost now, in 2007, 45 years later! Tom Cooper (Supervisor), Robert Rhodes (Director of Engineering), Lyle Raverty (Director of Maintenance) and Gene Skelton (Director of Quality Control) successively approved the ER, with final approval by Frank Judd, VP Maintenance & Engineering. Rex Perry, Airframe Project Engineer, prepared the Engineering Order, Material List and EP-19, which Felix approved, that document detailed installation instructions for mechanics, listed material requirements for the Purchasing Department action and provided directions for revisions to Maintenance and Operations manuals.

Vignette: After recovery of some of the ransom money, Donald Nyrop, then Chairman-CEO of NWA, tried to buy some of the recovered money from the Government to use as gifts for some of NWA’s best aviation minded customers. Having been part of Government as FAA Administrator and CAB Chairman, he undoubtedly knew that the bureaucracy would not release the money gratis, even though it essentially belonged to NWA. The Government’s rationale may have been that NWA paid for service (from D.B. Cooper), albeit a very illegal and unwanted service, and that the owners of the money (D.B. Cooper), essentially declared bankruptcy (in a manner of speaking). Not only that, Cooper had not paid any tax on this income. Therefore, the Government assumed that they had first claim to the money. They refused to release any of the money to NWA.

** A Cooper Commemorative **

Joe McKernan dropped by our 5th Anniversary gathering and gave us the opportunity to see a special commemorative belt buckle forged to recall the exploits of D. B. Cooper. The buckle is cast in some type of silver colored metal and with cloisonné enamel painting. It depicts a 727, a parachutist with a suitcase and money swirling in the breeze. The reverse side, in very fine print, has a 90-word description of the incident. Joe’s buckle is #342 of a very limited edition.

If anyone happens to have one of these buckles tucked away somewhere and would consider donating it to the History Centre, the offering would be greatly appreciated. This type of item is indeed of historical significance.