Spotlight / By SSG Christopher Freeman, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office: The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior has been a mainstay in the skies over the North Carolina and the Fayetteville community for over 25 years. The 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, made their final formation flight from Fort Bragg, N.C. April 15. The flight saw 32 helicopters flying in a formation from Fort Bragg to downtown Fayetteville and back to Simmons Army Airfield. The final Kiowa Warrior flight honored past and present service members that have had the privilege of operating and maintaining the aircraft and served as a final “thank you” and farewell to the residents of the Fort Bragg and the Fayetteville community. The Kiowa, which has been in the inventory since 1990 and amassed over 2 million flight hours, is being retired from the inventory as part of the Aviation Restructuring Initiative (ARI).
32 OH-58 Kiowa Warriors assigned to 1st Sqdn., 17th Cav. Regt., 82nd Cbt. Avn. Bde., take to the skies during their final formation flight, Simmons Army Airfield, N.C. April 15.
OH-58 Kiowa Warriors of 1st Sqdn., 17th Cav. Regt., 82nd Cbt. Avn. Bde. fly under an arch of water to complete a final flyover “salute” formation at Simmons Army Airfield, NC, April 15, 2016.
The Stetson of Soldiers assigned to 1st Sqdn., 17th Cav. Regt., 82nd Cbt. Avn. Bde., reflects their time spent with the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior on the day of its last flight at Simmons Army Airfield, NC, April 15.
