I live in Olympia, WA (near Fort Lewis Army Base) and there are helicopters flying over downtown multiple times daily. Nothing out of the ordinary. I have however noticed that MORE of them are flying daily. Not just Chinooks, but also smaller helicopters with radar dishes (those high things above the top propellers), and red and white (coast guard) flying daily. The flight patterns rotate. There are about four different patterns I've noticed.

http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/7764946/2/stock-photo-7764946-longbow-radar-apache-helicopter.jpg

This is a radar dish. Good rule of thumb, if you see a long pole in front of a helicopter it's military. Its a receptor rod for a hose and drogue refueling system, so the helicopter can be refueled while in flight. If you don't mind looking crazy, I've found all of this out via the internet, and binoculars.

I've seen the same thing up here in the valley North of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK.

Coincidentally, we'll be moving to your neck of the woods in 3 months.

I've been noticing helicopters flying past my house more often, and usually at night. Metro Detroit.

Really? I live in Westland and hear nothing.

Is this really your mindset?

Hear helicopters for a few days? MUST BE PLANNING SOMETHING!

Is there a hospital nearby? Helicopters fly in and out of those constantly, especially if you're in a decent sized city.

Ha. I live in Los Angeles, CA. We call them ghetto birds over here they're so common.

Traffic copter?

Ahh military chinooks, probably transporting aliens. On a serious note I assume you are not close to any military bases? These are used for heavy loads and have around a 450 mile range.

That's actually a phrog, ch-46. Used mostly by USMC.

Cool, im used to just seeing chinooks (live in northern ireland) so I use it asa catch all for that shape of copter.

I only know from working with them when I was in the military. How's Ireland? I've always wanted to go.

I've not seen any in the last 3 weeks, but last month I counted a total of 7 incidences where an US Army Chinook flew overhead of my remote farming community. 35 miles away from a major Air Force Base (Chinook are not used by the Air Force), all copters were flying in a flight path not in connection with the Base.

Could be this.

saw a grey drone rotorcraft based on a little bird chassis...right over my fucking college. no livery...not so much as a single number on it.

So literally it could have belonged to anyone.

damned sure not everyone could afford one...

People with jobs can. and there's plenty of hobbiests out there. To be honest the lack of markings probably means it was a hobbiest's bit of kit.

it was full-size!

Explain "full-size". Also, how were you able to determine the size of a moving aerial object?

'full size' does not need to be explained.

because 1) engine noise. i'm former military and have heard Little Birds before. 2) it was rather low. but feel free to doubt away...even unreasonably.

It's not unreasonable - you didn't provide sufficient information - for example looking for Little Bird Chassis brings up a small drone chassis, not some possibly helicopter sized item which it seems like you're alluding to.

yeah. i see where you're coming from. that will be all. bye now!

Well you're not alone, I usually get one or two a week... Never get a good look at em though. It's probably just a traffic or news copter.

S/E Michigan, had two Black Hawks fly over during the day about a week ago. Over the winter we had some large slow helicopters fly over at night, in a swervy pattern that seemed like they were searching for something. They had a distinct sound and I think they were dual rotor.

I also work outside and can note that the local national guard base has been putting in lots of hours in the F-16's for a year now. Those jets put out quite a rumble.

Crazy that stuff like this is considered normal, but due to just this giant growing state of paranoia, it's seen as more.

If you can hear the helicopters that might not be a bad thing. It's the choppers that make no noise that you have to worry about.

Blue Thunder?!

I live in Columbus Ohio. We have more police helicopters than Los Angeles county. I hear police choppers at least 5 times every day.

Hear em all the time, but they are part of our natural fauna here in LA.

You are right, they are all over the place, and it's usually not a news helicopter.

Heard one the other night (I think) it was late I was in bed. I live in a smaller college town so it wasn't a news or traffic copter. Could be medical, but I didn't hear about any tragic accidents the next morning.

well i live in between and army base and an air-force base, so I see them a lot. There doesn't seem to be any extra air traffic.

I live no where near military bases. Closest airport to me is for small planes, maybe 3 short runways. I've seen chinooks being escorted by Apaches, and one time I saw a huge transport aircraft, not sure the type. I live in a suburb. Shit is scary.

So literally it could have belonged to anyone.