It is hoped former crowd favorite the Consolidated Catalina PBY-5A flying boat will make a return to next year’s Warbirds Over Wanaka, New Zealand, International Airshow after a wing refurbishment of the 70-year-old aircraft.
One of only two in the southern hemisphere still flying, the Catalina was recently moved into a hangar at New Plymouth, where the refurbishment work will be carried out by the Catalina Preservation Society. President Lawrence Acket said the goal was always to have the aircraft back flying in time for Warbirds Over Wanaka 2014, April 18-20.
It last flew in Wanaka at the 2010 airshow. Its most recent airshow appearance was at the Battle of Britain Airshow at Ardmore in 2011.
For the complete story in the Otago (Dunedin, N.Z.) Daily Times, click here.
