We know that the UFO phenomenon is eclectic and multifaceted, manifesting in a wide range of shapes, sizes, behaviors, and contexts. Reports of unidentified flying objects come from various cultures and historical periods, describing everything from luminous spheres to massive, silent triangular structures. In many instances, these objects appear to defy known laws of physics, performing impossible maneuvers or simply vanishing before the eyes of witnesses. One particularly intriguing aspect reported by pilots, civilians, and military personnel over the decades is the apparent use of some form of cloaking—whether visual, optical, or thermal—which suggests a highly advanced concealment technology.
With the advancement of infrared sensors and FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) technology, it has become possible to detect the heat emitted by objects invisible to the naked eye. This capability has revealed anomalies that would otherwise go unnoticed in the visible spectrum, offering a new layer of insight into unidentified aerial phenomena. FLIR recordings have since played a crucial role in the documentation of these events, particularly when conventional instruments fail to detect or explain them.
That is exactly what happened on March 1st, 1991, in Daytona Beach, Florida, when a Sheriff’s Department helicopter recorded one of the most compelling videos of a seemingly cloaked anomalous object. The footage showed an object invisible to the eye but clearly visible in infrared, emitting strange thermal signatures and exhibiting flight characteristics inconsistent with known aircraft or natural phenomena. To this day, it remains one of the most mysterious and credible FLIR-based UFO recordings ever captured by a civilian authority.
One of the most famous modern recordings in the world is known as the “UFO Gimbal.” This video was captured in 2015 by United States Navy pilots and was made public in 2017 when it was officially released by the U.S. Department of Defense. The footage shows a flying object recorded by FLIR cameras, performing unusual maneuvers, including rotations and movements that defy known laws of physics, without emitting any visible signals.
This case gained widespread attention due to its quality and confirmation by official sources, becoming a milestone in global ufology.
On March 1st, 1991, Daytona Beach Sheriff’s Department officers Mark Patterson and Jim DelaRosa captured an enigmatic object using a FLIR camera aboard their helicopter. The object appeared to be shaped like a barbell and was not visible to the naked eye.
The heat-sensitive camera captured shapes of objects that the human eye could not discern.
At the time, one of the witnesses, Mark Patterson, detailed the incident. Patterson contacted the local air traffic control and was informed that there was nothing unusual on the radar at that moment.
The other witness, Jim DelaRosa, also shared his version of the story. Upon analyzing the footage, it was revealed that the object appeared to be emitting two different heat sources, with a lighter middle section.
Another disturbing fact about the sighting is that both men believed the object might have been tracking their helicopter.
None of the researchers or retired Sheriff’s Department personnel had ever seen any kind of craft resembling the object captured on March 1st, 1991, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Other experts who analyzed the footage ruled out the possibility of the object being a helicopter or any other conventional aircraft.
The object had a peculiar shape, often described as a “barbell,” composed of two heat sources connected by a cooler middle section. This unusual thermal signature does not match typical patterns of known aircraft, whose heat distribution tends to be more uniform due to engines and propulsion systems.
During the sighting, the object exhibited strange movements, including what the pilots interpreted as possible tracking of their helicopter, suggesting a form of intelligence or control behind the object. Despite the pilots’ contact with local air traffic control and confirmation that there was no unusual radar activity in the area, the object remained invisible to conventional radar systems and was only detected by the FLIR cameras.
The witnesses, although providing statements to investigation teams, remained reserved, and the incident did not receive widespread media coverage at the time, fueling speculation about possible containment or official secrecy. Independent experts who analyzed the thermal footage ruled out explanations such as natural phenomena, reflections, birds, drones, or conventional aircraft.
Below, watch a HISTORY program that discusses the incident:
