Yesterday, locals reported a sighting of several CH-53 helicopters over Southwest Baltimore. This was first mentioned on social media by a curious local and in fairness, it’s not something that most people are used to seeing on a regular occurrence. Because of this, these helicopters were bound to raise eyebrows and get people talking.

While this may sound like a cause for concern, it turns out that there’s a very simple explanation for their presence in the city. The most likely reason for this has to do with the upcoming Baltimore Ravens game. Here, it is tradition that military aircraft participate in a flyover. Typically, these planes will do a practice run just days before to test the route. Based on this, you can expect to see more Super Stallions flying ahead over the coming days which is especially the case if you’re a Ravens fan.

The CH-53 helicopter is a heavy-lift military helicopter designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft. The first version of the helicopter, the CH-53A Sea Stallion, was made in 1966. The helicopter has undergone several upgrades over the years and can carry a payload of up to 20,000 pounds. The CH-53 helicopter is primarily used for transport and logistics missions, including the movement of troops, equipment, and supplies in support of military operations.