Affectionately known as the sturdy old Holdens of the airforce, today our ageing Iroquois helicopter fleet was fondly farewelled in Auckland.

It's so highly regarded, Vietnam veterans from New Zealand and Australia gathered to say goodbye.

"It's got a signature all of its own and when you hear it you think jeez, I love those things," Nev Farley, former SAS patrol commander said.

"Everyone loves them, even the Australians with the black hawks. Many of those fellas would love to be on the Iroquois," Strawb Ellis, former RAAF mechanic said.

Sixteen New Zealanders served under the command of the Royal Australian Airforce in the bloody Vietnam conflict of the late 1960s and '70s.

Our Iroquois pilots flew numerous resupply, medi-vac and deployment missions, while our SAS fought side by side with their Aussie counterparts.

"We had adventurous times with SAS I can assure you of that. Things got pretty hot at times," John Pendreigh, former RNZAF Iroquois pilot said.

But after nearly 50 years in the skies, working in conflict zones, delivering aid, helping police and search and rescue, New Zealand's trusty Iroquois fleet of 10 will be decommissioned in less than two months.

High tech replacements are already in service, but sadness that the old war horses are retiring comes not only from veterans but the future flying generation that followed.