DOCUMENTATIONFLIR (Forward Looking Infrared)
The Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) system on the MH-60 (Sierra, Romeo, and Tango variants) is simulated as a cosmetic-only feature. While the external 3D model is fully articulated and integrated into the cockpit controls, users should be aware of the following functional limitations:
- Articulated Turret: The FLIR ball on the nose of the aircraft is fully animated. It will respond to control inputs (Pan/Tilt) via the assigned keybinds:
| Function | MSFS Key Bindings | Clickable in Cockpit |
|---|---|---|
| Move FLIR Right/Left | INCREASE MIXTURE 3DECREASE MIXTURE 3 | ❌ |
| Move FLIR Up/Down | INCREASE MIXTURE 4DECREASE MIXTURE 4 | ❌ |
| Increase/Decrease Zoom | INCREASE MAGNETO 3DECREASE MAGNETO 3 | ❌ |
- No Thermal Overlay: The system does not generate a true "thermal" (infrared) image. While you may see a camera feed on the Multi-Function Displays (MFDs), it functions as a standard daylight or low-light digital camera with filters, rather than a heat-signature sensor.
- Target Tracking: The "Cosmetic Only" designation means the FLIR cannot autonomously slave to, lock onto, or track AI entities (vehicles, ships, or people) based on heat signatures.
- Objects rendering limitations: The FLIR implementation will not render SimObjects (Buildings, Ships, vehicles, aircraft or people). It is limited to render terrain, satellite imagery, and airport grounds, as fed by the Synthetic Vision engine in MSFS.
The primary reason the FLIR system is restricted to a cosmetic or "synthetic" view is the absence of Camera-in-Gauge support within the MSFS SDK.
