FORT DRUM -- After more than 20 years of service, the Army is phasing out its Kiowa helicopters, so to say goodbye, the unit that flies them took the choppers out Tuesday for one final flight.

Eight years ago, Fort Drum's 1st Battalion 10th Aviation Regiment decided to change their name to the more appropriate 6-6 Cavalry Regiment.

"The six shooter squadron is a great Army unit with a great heritage and history and it will continue to be so,”  10th Combat Aviation Brigade Commander Col. Michael McCurry said.

For now, the 6-6 will be saying goodbye, as the Kiowa helicopters, now with 21 years of use, are being phased out. It was known as a scout chopper was an eye in the sky for the soldiers down below.

"This aircraft has been really good for the ground force.  We take pride in protecting those ground forces that we're covering,” said CW4 Tom Montijo, a 6-6 pilot.

To honor the choppers and thank the community for its support, the 6-6 took 30 of the Kiowas out for one final flight.  It was a two-hour trip over the post, Watertown and neighboring communities.

"We live in the community.  Our kids go to school in these schools and we appreciate everything up here in the North Country.  We just wanted to say, 'Thanks!'" exclaimed McCurry.

On this final flight, these pilots all had the chance to look back on 20 years of flying these machines, including four trips to Afghanistan and one more to Iraq.

"Several of the pilots that flew in the squadron here were in the squadron that I commanded at Fort Wainwright and I was actually flying with one of them today in the lead ship.  We definitely had a chance to renew those ties and walk down memory lane and remember our fallen brothers,” McCurry said.

The formation flew over Monument Park on Fort Drum, the spot reserved for those who gave all.  The last few Kiowas were in what's known as the "Missing Man" formation.

"It is emotional.  We've all known someone really close to us that's lost a life.  We want to be able to honor them and show them we haven't forgotten them,”  Montijo said.

The helicopters will next be flown to Arizona for their official retirement.  What will become of them is something the government is still figuring out.

The soldiers of the cavalry will move over to the Apache helicopters or join a unit with unmanned aircraft.