[austingirl]

Does anybody know why the "spy" plane did not pick up the muzzle flash so this perp can be nailed? Are the planes flying? Did they move them south?

[vin-one]

probably the spy plane has a limited footprint much like a Satelite's foot print,
probably has to be near to pick it up. Just my non technical view point.
take it for what it's worth.

[nomoreheroes]

Does anybody know why the "spy" plane did not pick up the muzzle flash so this perp can be nailed? Are the planes flying? Did they move them south?

You actually believed it would help? Got Helicopters all over the place, roadblocks, God knows how many cops, and yet the sniper shoots with impunity. Makes you wonder if the professionals are capable of solving this one.

[pfflier]

Does anybody know why the "spy" plane did not pick up the muzzle flash

Huh??

It could be masked by any number of objects.

I'm a spy plane Jim, not a magician.

[E.Allen]

If he's firing from inside a van or box truck, that would shield him, and his muzzle flash, from observation from above.

[steve86]

All the sniper has to do is stand under a big tree -- anything to block the infrared and other emissions. A flash suppressor would help also. A parking garage roof or something would be even better.

I also suspect that an urban environment generates so many false positives that muzzle flash locating would be less useful. No so in an open desert environment, for example.

[Sender]

Does anybody know why the "spy" plane did not pick up the muzzle flash so this perp can be nailed?

Offhand, I'd say that in a non-urban environment, with a cool earth background and little artificial light, a muzzle flash would stand right out and be detected. But in the city, with many heat sources and flashing lights everywhere, it would be a good trick indeed to discriminate a muzzle flash from, say, the strobes on top of all those cop cars. I don't know the capabilities of these planes but it seems like trying to spot a flashlight on the surface of the sun.

[opbuzz]

Does anybody know why the "spy" plane did not pick up the muzzle flash so this perp can be nailed? Are the planes flying? Did they move them south?

The area being covered is over 100 miles long and 40 miles wide, larger than some countries. To see a muzzle flash, you'd have to be looking directly at the source.

These planes aren't there looking for muzzle flashes. Many other sources create larger flashes than a rifle, and I rarely recall ever seeing a muzzle flash.

[UB355]

I heard, but can not give you any claim of accuracy that the plane can view an area of about 45 miles. This morning's incident was 45 miles away from the last.

[LibWhacker]

Also, someone on FOX said there was low cloud cover this morning over that area.