When were "Black Box" recorders put into planes?

Question

I was wondering if Black box recorders were in the plane D.B. Cooper was in?

Answer 1

Dan Cooper parachuted out using the rear stairs on a Northwest Airlines B-727-100...not a 737. The 737 doesn't have rear stairs and Northwest has never flown them. The B-727 was equipped with an analog flight data recorder, but that would provide no information that would be of much assistance in solving the mystery.

As a result of that incident all 727's were fitted with what became known as a "D.B. Cooper lock."

Answer 2

Dr David Warren of the Aeronautical Research Laboratories in Melbourne, Australia invented the "Black Box" flight data recorder. He was the first person to conceive of the idea of recording the flight crew's conversation on an airplane and of protecting that recording in the event of a crash or fire. The purpose of the Black Box was to help identify the reasons for a plane crash, by recording any clues in the flight crew's conversation. The Black Box was invented in 1953 and in production by 1957. The first ones were painted bright red or orange to make them easier to find after a crash. In 1960, Australia became the first country to make flight recorders mandatory in aircraft.

As  db's flight was in the early 70's, It would be easy to assume that the flight data recorder was indeed on board

"his" flight.

Answer 3

Sul is correct, it was a 727 and all aircraft with rear airstairs, not just 72s got the DB Cooper lock, which moved over the door and prevented it's opening when air pressure (i.e. flight) was applied.

Answer 4

When they are made

Answer 5

"Cooper" parachuted from a B727.

Answer 6

The first flight recorders were installed in US commercial airliners in 1957.  The airplane made famous by DB Cooper was a Boing 737, and all of that type were built with flight recorders.

The flight recorder would not have recorded anything related to Cooper's activities, but it was there.

Answer 7

Just after RAP music became available on tapes.