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Possibly superior image? It would help if someone could identify the flash suppressor for those who don't normally work with these weapons.
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MCW ♦
MCW ♦
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In most pictures of an M61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me).

Wikipedia reference image of M61 Vulcan copyright free to use as referenced on that page

Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.

In most pictures of an M61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me). Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.

In most pictures of an M61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me).

Wikipedia reference image of M61 Vulcan copyright free to use as referenced on that page

Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.

Added links for reference; not great links; there are opportunities for better links.
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MCW ♦
MCW ♦
  • 34k
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  • 109
  • 162

In most pictures of an M61 VulcanM61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressorflash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me). Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.

In most pictures of an M61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me). Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.

In most pictures of an M61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me). Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.

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David Cian
David Cian
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Why does the M61 Vulcan have a flash suppressor?

In most pictures of an M61 Vulcan, you can see a flash suppressor (clearly not a muzzle brake, which could've made some sense to me). Knowing that these were mostly used on US military fixed-wing aircraft, why was the flash suppressors added? On rifles, the goal is usually to prevent the operator from being blinded in low-light environments, which I doubt would be a problem for an aircraft pilot, unless I'm mistaken?

An alternate explanation would be that it's meant to make the aircraft harder to spot when firing, but I doubt that the flash suppressor would work well enough, if visual spotting during firing even is that big of a factor to take into account.