Thanks for your reply JUR, yes I can just understand this difference, thats the reason I would like an oppinion on the newer, all AF-S lenses, I will patiently await results ………. Keith.

Incoming !!! Wow, yes that worked, would like to place them across the page, but that can wait for now.
My request is :- Recently purchased, in Dubai, a Nikon D40X complete with all the bits and pieces necessary to get going, this kit included the standard lens “18 – 55 f 1.35 – 5.6 G11 AF-S ED” plus apparently “thrown in” free, a
lens “70 – 300 1:4 – 5.6G” this later lens I understand is manual focus only,
the standard lens has the SWM motor built in, therefore autofocus.
So far I have played with the thing as “point and shoot” only (must stress this is my first digital and my first slr ! ).
This year I would like to shoot some flying aircraft etc, and am assuming I will need a better lens ? will also look forward to playing with all the other settings available to me ! and hopefully learn something ?
I have looked at the following :-
Nikon 55 – 200 f 4 – 5.6 AF-S VR DX. (£179)
Sigma 18 – 200 f 3.6 – 6.3 DC OS HSM (£299) recently launched
One advantage I have is the “express warehouse” is local, and they have a showroom where I can have a go !
Am I on completely the wrong tracks ? Your advice will be welcomed. Keith.

Even more detail ! It’s amazing what we all carry in the depths of memory ? I think Freddie Laker was a “bit of a lad” Often wondered what sort of airline would have sprung up if he and a certain T. D .Keegan were in cahoots at that time ? Early british civil aviation would’t have been so interesting without these characters ! HP81, I was not doubting your previous last flight details, guess as a positioning flight it would not be as well recorded. Must have been the “last move” of the very lucrative MOD cargo flights ?
The thoughts on Russian radar etc are interesting, thank you.
Are there still people at STN who remember these days……… spooky ! Keith.