Within Flares
Why falling flares seem to hover
A slow-burning parachute flare can seem fixed in the sky when distance, darkness and terrain remove normal motion cues.
On this page
- How parachute flares burn and descend
- Why night distance cues fail
- When hovering reports still need checking
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Introduction
A parachute flare can look remarkably like a hovering UFO even though it is slowly descending. The reason lies in the way military illumination flares are designed: they burn with extreme brightness while suspended beneath a parachute, allowing them to remain visible for several minutes as they drift downward. At night, when distance is difficult to judge and landmarks are hidden, that gradual descent can become almost impossible for observers to perceive. What remains is a brilliant light that appears fixed in the sky, often silent and seemingly stationary. Technical specifications for common illumination flares such as the LUU-2 series show burn times of roughly four to five minutes and descent rates of only a few metres per second, conditions that naturally create the impression of a hovering object. [towndock.net> <meta name=]towndock.netLUU-19B/B Infrared Flare. Like the LUU-2D/B, the LUU-19B/B…Read more… GlobalSecurity Within the broader category of UFO reports caused by flares and military training lights [globalsecurity.org]globalsecurity.orgGlobal Security LUU-2 FlareGlobalSecurityLUU-2 Flare - Dumb Bombs7 Jul 2011 — Light Output: 1,800,000 candlepower, 1,600,000 candlepower; Burn Time: 240 sec/300 se…, this “hovering flare” effect is one of the most important mechanisms because it explains why sincere witnesses can report stationary aerial objects without any unusual technology being involved.
How parachute flares burn and descend
Military illumination flares are not intended to fall quickly. Their purpose is to light large areas of ground during night operations, training exercises, search-and-rescue missions, or target marking. To achieve that, the flare deploys a parachute after release and burns an intense magnesium-based illumination candle while descending slowly. The LUU-2 family, for example, produces roughly 1.8 million candlepower of light and can remain illuminated for around four to five minutes. [towndock.net> <meta name=]towndock.netLUU-19B/B Infrared Flare. Like the LUU-2D/B, the LUU-19B/B…Read more… [Magellan Aerospace]magellan.aeroaerospace announces contracts to produce aircraft illumination flares 2The LUU-2 flare is a vital resource for the men and…Read more…
The descent is much slower than many people imagine. Technical data place the average descent rate at roughly 2.5 metres per second. At long range, this motion can be extremely difficult to detect visually, especially when the observer lacks a reference point. [GlobalSecurity]globalsecurity.orgGlobal Security LUU-2 FlareGlobalSecurityLUU-2 Flare - Dumb Bombs7 Jul 2011 — Light Output: 1,800,000 candlepower, 1,600,000 candlepower; Burn Time: 240 sec/300 se…
Several characteristics reinforce the illusion:
- Exceptional brightness: The flare can outshine nearby stars and dominate the night sky.
- Slow vertical movement: The descent may be too gradual to notice over short observation periods.
- Wind drift: Sideways movement can be masked by distance, making the flare appear fixed.
- Silent appearance: At many kilometres away, any aircraft noise is absent or arrives long after the sighting.
The result is an object that appears to hang motionless in space even though it is steadily descending under a parachute.
Why night distance cues fail
Human perception of motion depends heavily on context. During daylight, trees, buildings, clouds and terrain provide clues that reveal whether an object is moving. At night those cues often disappear.
A bright flare viewed against a dark sky creates a particularly difficult situation for the visual system. Observers usually cannot determine whether the light is hundreds of metres away or tens of kilometres distant. If the flare is actually far away, its slow descent produces only a tiny angular change in the observer’s field of view. The brain interprets that tiny change as no movement at all.
This effect becomes stronger when the flare is seen over:
- Dark mountains or hills.
- Open water.
- Desert terrain.
- Rural areas with few visible landmarks.
- Thin haze or cloud layers that obscure the horizon.
Under these conditions, witnesses may report that a light “hovered for several minutes” when it was actually descending continuously.
Brightness itself can also distort perception. Extremely luminous objects reduce the visibility of dim background stars near them, making the light seem attached to a larger dark structure or creating the impression that it occupies a fixed position in space. Investigations of flare-related sightings have repeatedly noted this effect. [Wikipedia]WikipediaPhoenix LightsPhoenix Lights
Why several flares can resemble a structured craft
When multiple flares are released in sequence, they may appear arranged in a line, arc or geometric pattern. Because each flare descends at a similar rate, their relative positions change only slowly. Observers can therefore perceive a single large object with several lights attached to it rather than separate descending flares.
This is especially persuasive when the aircraft that released the flares is too distant or too dark to be seen. The visible lights remain while the source aircraft disappears from awareness.
A well-known example: the Phoenix Lights
One of the most frequently discussed examples of the hovering-flare illusion occurred during the 1997 Phoenix Lights event in Arizona. Although the broader incident involved multiple reports and interpretations, the later group of lights observed near Phoenix became a classic case study in how parachute flares can appear stationary.
Investigations concluded that the lights were consistent with LUU-2 illumination flares dropped during military training exercises on the Barry Goldwater Range. Witnesses described a row of bright lights that appeared to hover for extended periods. From the viewing locations around Phoenix, the slow-falling flares were distant enough that their descent was difficult to perceive. As they dropped behind the Sierra Estrella mountains, the lights appeared to extinguish one by one, reinforcing the impression of a large structured object rather than separate descending flares. [Phoenix New Times]phoenixnewtimes.comphoenix lights ufo mystery explanations 19105870Phoenix Lights explained: Everything to know about the…3 June 2024 — The first was a V-shaped formation of six to ten glowing orbs the…
The case remains notable because it demonstrates how a real aerial light source can generate genuinely unusual observations without requiring unusual physics.
When hovering reports still need checking
The fact that parachute flares can appear to hover does not mean every hovering-light report is automatically explained by flares. The flare hypothesis works best when several conditions are present simultaneously.
Investigators typically look for:
- Military training activity in the area.
- Air weapons ranges, training grounds or military airspace nearby.
- Lights that remain visible for only a few minutes rather than extended periods.
- Gradual fading or disappearance near terrain features.
- Multiple lights descending in a loose line or formation.
- Video evidence showing slow downward movement when stabilised and analysed.
Conversely, reports deserve further examination if the timing, location, duration or behaviour are inconsistent with known flare operations. The key point is that “hovering” by itself is not strong evidence for an extraordinary object. A slow-burning parachute flare is specifically engineered to remain suspended in the night sky, making apparent hovering one of the most predictable visual effects it produces. GlobalSecurity [2towndock.net> <meta name=]towndock.netLUU-19B/B Infrared Flare. Like the LUU-2D/B, the LUU-19B/B…Read more…
Amazon book picks
Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Why falling flares seem to hover. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
The UFO Handbook
Directly relevant to distinguishing hovering lights from conventional aerial sources.
The Phoenix Lights
Contains extensive discussion of lights interpreted as structured craft.
NightWatch
Helps readers understand how distance and darkness affect sky observations.
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Endnotes
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Source: towndock.net
Link: https://towndock.net/files/LUU_Parachute_Factsheet.pdfSource snippet
LUU-19B/B [Infrared]({{ 'infrared/' | relative_url }}) Flare. Like the LUU-2D/B, the LUU-19B/B...Read more...
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Source: globalsecurity.org
Title: Global Security LUU-2 Flare
Link: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/luu2-specs.htmSource snippet
GlobalSecurityLUU-2 Flare - Dumb Bombs7 Jul 2011 — Light Output: 1,800,000 candlepower, 1,600,000 candlepower; Burn Time: 240 sec/300 se...
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Source: globalsecurity.org
Title: Global Security LUU-2 Flare
Link: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/luu2.htmSource snippet
GlobalSecurityLUU-2 Flare - Dumb Bombs7 Jul 2011 — The LUU-2 has a burn time of approximately 5 minutes while suspended from a parachute...
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Source: magellan.aero
Title: aerospace announces contracts to produce aircraft illumination flares 2
Link: https://magellan.aero/press-release/magellan-aerospace-announces-contracts-to-produce-aircraft-illumination-flares-2/Source snippet
The LUU-2 flare is a vital resource for the men and...Read more...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: Phoenix Lights
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights -
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Battlefield illumination
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_illuminationSource snippet
Battlefield illuminationA modern LUU-2B flare at 1,000 feet altitude illuminates the ground at 5 lux in a radius of 1500 feet. Burn ti...
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Source: phoenixnewtimes.com
Title: phoenix lights ufo mystery explanations 19105870
Link: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/uncategorized/phoenix-lights-ufo-mystery-explanations-19105870/Source snippet
Phoenix Lights explained: Everything to know about the...3 June 2024 — The first was a V-shaped formation of six to ten [glowing orbs]({{ 'glowing-orbs/' | relative_url }}) the...
Published: June 2024
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Source: planeandpilotmag.com
Title: the phoenix lights
Link: https://planeandpilotmag.com/the-phoenix-lights/Source snippet
20 Sept 2022 — The most plausible earthly explanation suggests the lights were flares dropped by Maryland National Guard A-10 Warthog air...
Additional References
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1gtyrde/close_up_parachute_flare_theyre_not_ufos/Source snippet
Close Up Parachute Flare (They're not UFOs): r/UFOsThe LUU-2D/B produces about 1.8 million candlepower of visual illumination for four t...
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Source: anft.net
Link: https://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-flare.htmSource snippet
LUU-2 Aircraft Parachute FlareAfter separation, the flare's times is activated and the flare will ignite after the flare has fallen for a...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/xuhht4/need_help_finding_video_that_explains_phoenix/Source snippet
Need help finding video that explains Phoenix LightsThe flares were deployed on parachutes and they fell until they were behind a mountai...
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Source: wescomdefence.com
Link: https://wescomdefence.com/product/battlefield-illumination/ -
Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e0jc97ifcASource snippet
DCS World: F-5E SUU-2 Target Illumination FlaresWhen it's dark out on a mission and you don't have access to night vision goggles it's ti...
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Source: youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw6_ZrL-rNkSource snippet
IWA New 37/38mm parachuting illuminating flareNew 37/38mm parachuting illuminating flare 37mm Parachute Flare Kits, Reloads, and Live Rou...
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Source: discoveryuk.com
Title: the phoenix lights phenomenon an unsolved ufo mystery
Link: https://www.discoveryuk.com/mysteries/the-phoenix-lights-phenomenon-an-unsolved-ufo-mystery/Source snippet
The Phoenix Lights Phenomenon: An Unsolved UFO Mystery14 May 2024 — Some theories suggest that the V-shaped formation responsible for the...
Published: May 2024
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Source: forum.dcs.world
Title: 284432 luu 2b and m 257 illumination and marking flares
Link: https://forum.dcs.world/topic/284432-luu-2b-and-m-257-illumination-and-marking-flares/Source snippet
It deploys parachute just after releasing no matter of the settings. Free-fall delay setting in DSMS...Read more...
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Source: sofrep.com
Title: the phoenix lifts ufo or airforce
Link: https://sofrep.com/news/the-phoenix-lifts-ufo-or-airforce/Source snippet
The Phoenix Lights: UFO Cover-Up Or Air Force Training?26 Dec 2015 — An incident known as the "Phoenix Lights" occurred on 13 March 1997...
Published: March 1997
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/HISTORY/posts/what-is-your-explanation-for-the-phoenix-lights-phenomenon-the-mysterious-uniden/10158879836011184/Source snippet
d flying objects spotted in the skies in 1997?...
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