Flares: Nice picture and question

I found this beautiful picture on some Russian site. Are flares usually shot off at such a salvo? I guess this is for display pruposes, from what little I’ve seen of aircraft shooting off flares, namely IDF/AF AH-64s, F-16s and F-4s, they fire them off one at a time, about a second apart. So, is the discharge controlable or do different aircraft do it in a different manner? Are there situations where the method is important?

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U.N. Representative: So, Mr. Evil –
Dr. Evil: It’s Dr. Evil, I didn’t spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called “mister,” thank you very much.

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