why are military helicopters flying over Chicago lately? saw 3 on 6/15/09 and 3...

They are probably helping the local law officials in their hunt for drug activity like they do here in my home town...using thermal imagery to locate marijuana.
 
It is probably the National Guard or Army Reserve training.
They could also be flying patients to a hospital, or maybe an emergency blood transfer for a surgical operation.

More then likely, its just pilot training and flight hours, especially since it was the weekend which is when the Guard and Reserve train.

Also, what is so scary about it? They just fly around, maybe practice taking off or landing or are flying someone to a conference to get some flight time hours in. Why is it any more scarry then a police helicopter?
 
Those helicopters that you saw were helicopters from the unit called Marine One and its supporting units. President Obama came to town to give a speech to the American Medical Association in regarding his plans for the refom in health care.

In the link that I provided in the source area, you can read about the unti and see pictures of the helicopters. Among the ones that are the seen most of the time (the white over green helicopters), you probably saw blackhawks or other variants of that helicopter. Those are used for hauling supplies and other thing around. Usually, Marine ONe will show up a few days to weeks before the President arrives to start planning the routes and preparing for the big show. And yes, they treat it like a show even if the President is walking off Air Force One on to Marine One helicopters.
 
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