D.B.Cooper's parachute

I just finished watching the NBC nightly report on D.B.Cooper and and I am more baffled than the FBI investigator who occasionally works the case. The report said he requested "several parachutes" plus $200,000. in cash, which he got. It also said he was apparently not familiar with parachutes because he ignored a perfectly good one for one that was "sewed shut"!

I served 4 years in the Navy, 3 of it as a crewmember on P-3 antisubmarine patrol craft. Never in my experience have I heard the terminology "sewn shut" in conjuction with a parachute. I can not imagine why a parchute would ever be described in such a manner.

Either NBC got the terminology wrong or D. B. Cooper was intentionally given some parachutes that would not open. If it was the latter, why has there been no follow-up by the news media on that startling revelation?

Anybody got a clue what's going on? Something I'm missing in the facts?

James DellaPenna said:

I just finished watching the NBC nightly report on D.B.Cooper and and I am more baffled than the FBI investigator who occasionally works the case. The report said he requested "several parachutes" plus $200,000. in cash, which he got. It also said he was apparently not familiar with parachutes because he ignored a perfectly good one for one that was "sewed shut"!

I served 4 years in the Navy, 3 of it as a crewmember on P-3 antisubmarine patrol craft. Never in my experience have I heard the terminology "sewn shut" in conjuction with a parachute. I can not imagine why a parchute would ever be described in such a manner.

Either NBC got the terminology wrong or D. B. Cooper was intentionally given some parachutes that would not open. If it was the latter, why has there been no follow-up by the news media on that startling revelation?

Anybody got a clue what's going on? Something I'm missing in the facts?

Are there safety "pins" installed after packing to prevent accidental opening while suiting up? I believe sport chutes do have a storage locking device of some sort, removed after the chute is on and correctly adjusted. Could the drogue chute, some main chutes are opened by, have been packed in its case and its use not known or clear?

Just passing questions, I do not like the sensation of falling and the 150 mph bounce if all does not go well sorta ruins yer day.

James DellaPenna said:

It also said he was apparently not familiar with parachutes because he ignored a perfectly good one for one that was "sewed shut"!

I served 4 years in the Navy, 3 of it as a crewmember on P-3 antisubmarine patrol craft. Never in my experience have I heard the terminology "sewn shut" in conjuction with a parachute. I can not imagine why a parchute would ever be described in such a manner.

Either NBC got the terminology wrong or D. B. Cooper was intentionally given some parachutes that would not open. If it was the latter, why has there been no follow-up by the news media on that startling revelation?

Anybody got a clue what's going on? Something I'm missing in the facts?

Maybe it's just a way of describing a chute that's been rendered inoperable?