Whidbey Island residents may notice something a little different in the skies this weekend.

“Warbirds” from the World War II era will be flying into Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Ault Field base this week, base Public Affairs Officer Mike Welding said.

The antique aircraft will be on display at the annual base open house Saturday.

Theme of this year’s event is the 75th anniversary of the Ault Field Base, which is officially in September. Many of the aircraft that were at the base over the years will be available for the public to inspect.

That includes a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber and an SNJ, a single-engine trainer aircraft that is a variant of the T-6 Texan.

A highlight of the event, however, will likely be a seaplane. A Canso 58 Catalina, the Canadian version of the venerated Consolidated PBY Catalina, will fly in from Victoria, BC.

Peoples Bank and the PBY Memorial Foundation worked together to bring the impressive airplane to the base, according to Carron Chernobieff, branch manager in Oak Harbor.

It took a lot of coordination, Chernobieff said, but bank staff members are very excited about the PBY coming to the island.

“It is such a great opportunity to bring a piece of history to the open house.”

The PBY Catalina is an amphibious patrol bomber that was flown from the NAS Whidbey’s Seaplane Base. The large flying boats took on a variety of roles and distinguished themselves in WWII.

In addition to the historical aircraft, the static displays will include an EA-18 Growler, a PC-3C Orion, a MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter, the new C-40 Clipper and a P-8A Poseidon, which will soon replace the P-3Cs at the base. Planned aerial demonstrations include the EA-18G, P-3C and Search and Rescue helicopter.

The open house is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There will also be other displays, guided bus tours and K9 demonstrations.

• For a complete schedule of Saturday’s open house, see our special pullout section starting page A13 of today’s edition of the Whidbey News-Times.