It's a bird, a plane and some helicopters

No need to panic.

The folks at the North American Aerospace Defense Command otherwise known as NORAD will be conducting flight exercises on this Thursday in the skies over D.C. around midnight and continuing into the early morning hours.

If there's rain, the flights will be postponed until Friday.

Folks might be able to see and hear NORAD fighter aircraft, Civil Air Patrol aircraft, and Coast Guard helicopters in action.

The exercises are part of Opeation Noble Eagle, which was launched following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

For future reference NORAD is also the agency behind the Santa Tracker -- a tradition since 1955.