This cool image shows what an F-16 flare cartridge looks like moments after being ejected

November 12, 2013 Military Aviation
David Cenciotti

Flares are high-temperature heat sources ejected from combat planes to mislead the missile’s heat-seeking targeting system: the burning flares have a heat signature larger than that of the aircraft’s engines, thus they attract IR (infrared) guided missiles fired at them.

Even if they are only useful in combat, used during an airshow, they make an aircraft’s display particularly awesome.

The photo in this post is interesting because it shows a flare cartridge moments after being ejected by the F-16 Block 52+ of the Hellenic Air Force F-16 Demo Team “Zeus”.

A rare close up by Nikos Delhanidids who shot the photo on Nov. 9 in Thessaloniki.

H/T to Strategy Reports for the heads-up

Image credit: Monographix

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About David Cenciotti
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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

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