Their distinctive sound - the "thwop thwop thwop" of the rotors - sets the scene in many a war movie, but soon that sound will be just a memory as the last of the RNZAF Iroquois helicopters head to retirement.
The helicopters, affectionately known as Hueys, have been serving the Royal New Zealand Air Force since the 1960s, and will be sorely missed.
Flight-Lieutenant Lachie Johnston, of 3 Squadron, says the sound will be one of the many things he will miss, adding that the choppers have given "fantastic service, to the country and to the people of New Zealand".
Perhaps it is telling that the Iroquois is not being replaced by just one new type, but two. The NH90 will be used for frontline military and civil operations, while the A109LUH will be used for other operational work, as well as NH90 aircrew training. "Hopefully the enemy won't hear us coming in the new ones," says Flt-Lt Johnston, who adds that the carbon fibre and kevlar NH90 is able to carry more soldiers for longer flight times than the Huey.
Two Hueys are based at Stratford Aerodrome this month as part of Exercise Kiwi Koru and I was invited on a flight.