Military activity over chicago

[koonce357]

Does anyone know why there has been fighters flying racetrack patterns over the Chicago area tonight. I have been listening to center and O'hare tower but I have heard no reference to them. I noticed at about 2300 local a single fighter at fairly low level over my house. It was intercepted by a second aircraft and have now been in the area for about an hour. Just wondering, thanks.

[chuckles]

Seems like the Prez was returning home (south side of Chicago) for the holiday weekend.  I thought he was to make a trip Friday afternoon to Louisiana area to look at oil disaster.  Perhaps he was returning to the ORD, then Marine One to Soldier Field to meet motorcade, then "home".  If he stays in the Chicago area for the weekend, I would not be surprised if he took in the Blackhawks-Flyers Stanley Cup hockey game(s) on Saturday and Monday.  Not sure if that is the activity you heard, but fighters in the air while the prez is in town wouldn't be too much of a stretch.  You might hear/see a nice air show this weekend.

[koonce357]

Hi chuckles, yeah I kinda figured it had something to do with the President being in town. I looked up the notam information for the area and it seems there was an airspace restriction around ORD at about 1700 local. It was pretty cool to see them, wish I could have heard some comms or seen AF1. I didnt realize USAF flew "over-watch" in such instances. That truely is some tight security. Thanks for the reply and take care.