A Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow favourite will return to the skies next Easter after a six-year hiatus.
The Consolidated Catalina PBY-5A flying boat (pictured) is undergoing a major wing refurbishment in New Plymouth.
Catalina chief pilot Brett Emeny said refurbishing the 70-year-old aircraft was an expensive exercise.
''When you start work on these old aircraft, you always find a lot more to do, and that all costs money,'' he said.
The Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust raised $3000 towards the refurbishment of the aircraft at a special screening of the movie Return of the Catalina in Wanaka earlier this month.
Warbirds general manager Ed Taylor said the Catalina would be part of the aerial display at the airshow, and also part of a free community event on the Wanaka lakefront on the same weekend as the airshow.
Mr Taylor said he hoped the Catalina would be one of a number of amphibious aircraft to land on the lake.
''It should be some sight,'' he said.
