The crew at Classic Flyers is extending an open invitation for people to attend the official launch of the Royal New Zealand Air Force A4K Skyhawk on Sunday.

The Skyhawk – one of only nine of its kind – arrived at the site by way of three transporters and a truck from Woodbourne Air base in Blenheim on May 21, after being permanently loaned by the Ministry of Defence following the decommissioning of the fleet under the Labour Government in the 1990s.

Classic Flyers CEO Andrew Gormlie. Photo: Tracy Hardy. (See video below)

It took three days to re-assemble in a newly created display area at the aviation museum on Jean Batten Drive.

Transporting the aircraft was paid for with a subscription appeal from the people of Tauranga, so the management of Classic Flyers has extended an open invitation to the launch to all those who have helped or who will help in the future.

Board chairman David Love says it is brilliant to finally have the Skyhawk on site, after admitting to feeling frustration when it did not arrive last August as previously intended.

Weather permitting, the commemoration will begin with a Strikemaster aerial display at 1.30pm, followed by the commencement of formalities from 2pm.

Following that, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges will open the aircraft's specially constructed display area.

Refreshments will be available from the Avgas Café.