Plans are being developed to get more young pilots into the cockpits of some of the country's oldest aircraft.
Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust chairman John Gilks yesterday announced the trust would set up a $40,000 fund for flying scholarships of about $5000 to $6000 each.
"The main aim is to help get people who are already pilots experience in flying warbird aircraft.
"As we approach our 30th anniversary, it's important we do something positive to ensure there will be pilots able to fly these amazing machines for the next 30 years.''
Mr Gilks said the details had yet to be sorted out but the principle behind the move was to "encourage and enable young pilots to step up into warbirds training''.
Mr Gilks expected about half a dozen pilots each year could be assisted in developing their flying skills, initially in trainer aircraft such as Harvards and Yak 52s, and ultimately in planes such as Spitfires and other World War 2 fighters.
Mr Gilks said the trust also intended to donate $15,000 to $20,000 to local charities following the success of the show at Easter.
This year's three-day show attracted 49,000 spectators, an increase of nearly 1000 over the show two years ago. About 15% were from overseas.
Mr Gilks said the first priority of the trust was to ensure it made enough "to keep us in business'' until the next show.
Therefore, it had set up a a contingency fund of $100,000 18 months ago.
"If you don't have something like that, and you do have a bad airshow, you go broke,'' Mr Gilks said.
