FLIR Signatures?


Why is it that on the FLIR video when you see the flash of the automatic fire you don't see the heat trail of the bodies who would be firing the weapons? I would have thought you should be able to see the people, who are firing, on the FLIR.

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You can actually see light grey spots on the FLIR representing the two gunmen. The bright flashes are much more visible due to the high heat generated when firing an automatic firearm.

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[deleted]

Additionally, I find it interesting that so many posters here on this board seem to feel they know more about the FLIR system, and how to analyze it, than not only the guy who helped develope the system, but also an independant company that does nothing but analyze these kinds of videos.

Don't you think one of these two would have known more about what we were seeing than the ignorant public knowns, and have pointed out that they couldn't have been gunman if this were the case?

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[deleted]

Just saw this again after seeing it years ago.

The thing I didn't understand was why the FLIR airplane was flying over in the first place. anyone?

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You have to remember how hot it is in Texas during April. FLIR captures and displays images based on their different temperatures, not light. The surrounding air could have been very close to the temperature of the human body. This would explain why gunmen do not show up, however muzzle flashes do.

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This is true. When they use a FLIR system to do the alien’s point of view in the movie Predator they had a hard time do to the fact that the jungle they filmed it in was HOT.

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Air temp. doesn't matter in this case you should still see people on a flir. For example the deserts of iraq, we use flir to see heat signatures all the time day or night. And while on the border of mexico you can use the flir during the day and see people miles away. Plus in the video the flir guy said there were lots of shots. Guess what barrels get hot and stay hot quite awhile after shooting.

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I always thought modern combat fatiques and especially special forces wear, inc. sniper suit, had IR reduction within them? But anyway, the camera sees heat and so if someone wore a loose-fitting garment that allowed plenty of air past the uniform underneath, I'd think that may mask the heat signiture. They'd ust have to make sure the hands and head was also covered.

Another point: a gun barrel that fires multiple rounds gets hot ... hot enough to become visible on FLIR? Don't know...

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