All eight FBI sketches of hijack suspect Dan Cooper, shown together for the first time, are an impressive group. The first FBI composite sketch, also known as the "initial sketch" (figure 1), was produced by the Las Vegas Field Office. It shows Dan Cooper with classic marcelled hair and dark horn-rimmed glasses, as described by Northwest Orient passenger Robert B. Gregory. Gregory also characterized Cooper's hair as "Jet black, greasy, patent leather sheen. Combed straight back with a slight angle to the right and a slight part to the left." According to the 302's in the FBI Archive, Gregory remarked on Cooper's clothing as "Unusual colored suit coat, possibly a reddish brown or russet color; wide lapels. Shirt - neutral color. Tie - contrasting, medium to dark color."

This pair of artist sketches (figure 2) was released by the FBI on November 30, 1971, six days following the hijacking. These drawings later became known as the "Bing Crosby" sketches and are the most well known of the Cooper composites. The "Bing Crosby" drawings display a thin, elongated face, a narrow nose with small nostrils, and a large forehead with a higher-placed hairline. Cooper is again shown wearing a dark suit and sporting a thin tie, however, his sunglasses have been greatly modified from the horn-rimmed version shown in the "initial" sketch. Here they appear more rectangular and possibly made of dark plastic.

Now shown in color, Cooper appears as a middle-aged man with brown hair and brown eyes in two pairs of revised "B" sketches (figures 3 and 4) produced by the FBI circa 1972-73. Both sets show similar facial structures with only slight modifications to the mouth, forehead, hairline and hairstyle. In figure 3, the mouth appears down-turned with a fuller bottom lip, while the forehead is lined with deeper wrinkles. The thinner, slicked-back hairstyle is defined with a lower hairline. These details oppose the higher hairline pictured in figure 4 along with a thicker, marcelled style. In these two versions, Cooper's sunglasses have once again been modified with larger, more trapezoidal-shaped frames.

In figure 5, Cooper is portrayed as a much older man with graying marcelled hair, deep crow's feet, a pronounced development of nasolabial folds ("laugh lines") and sagging neck skin. His glabella is now furrowed. This version of Cooper was produced by an FBI sketch artist in June of 1999.