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What does the FLIR1 video show?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the apparent acceleration is an artefact of the field-of-view change and loss of track; the object is a…Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. The apparent acceleration is an artefact of the field-of-view change and loss of track; the object is a… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

FLIR1 is the only recording from the Nimitz event. It was published in 2017, confirmed as Navy footage in 2019, and released in 2020⁠[1]. Its dramatic final movement is the part most often shown and most disputed⁠[2].

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Disputed

History

  1. West puts forward: the apparent acceleration is an artefact of the field-of-view change and loss of track; the object is a…
  2. West: the sharp movement coincides with the operator's change of field of view and a digital zoom, which magnify…Against: The object accelerates sharply at the end of the clip, as the aircrew describe.
  3. West: the pod's autotrack depends on contrast and loses lock on zoom changes; the clip shows exactly this sequence.For: The apparent acceleration is an artefact of the field-of-view change and loss of track; the object is a…
  4. Phelan puts forward: the object accelerates sharply at the end of the clip, as the aircrew describe.
  5. Phelan: underwood reports erratic jumps on radar before he acquired the target on the pod.For: The object accelerates sharply at the end of the clip, as the aircrew describe.
  6. Fravor: fravor says the recording crew saw no infrared exhaust plume, which a jet at that range would normally show.Against: The apparent acceleration is an artefact of the field-of-view change and loss of track; the object is a…
  7. Asked on this site
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