Gary, zoom and image stabllization. I have a little Canon S5IS that will take some great shots, but focus and stablization are an issue. It's really hard to track a plane that is out a ways with enough zoom that you can actually see it in the photo. Up close, the plane is there and gone before you get the shot. Sports mode helps some. I think that if I were going to really get into the photos, I would get a gyro stablized shotgun stock mounted setup. Shoot maximum resolution and you can get away with a little less zoom.

The great thing about digital is that you can shoot for ever for nothing. Imagine shooting a couple hundred shots on film to get the one or two good ones the cost blows you away. My last big photo shoot with film was on our last trip to Australia and New Zealand in 93. I shot somthing like 50 rolls of 36 exposure. I had to take out a second mortgage on thehouse to get them developed, .

Don