They are so fragile and precious they need to be treated with kid gloves.
They each seem to have their own personalities, and definitely their own sounds and flying characteristics. To watch them fly against each other was a memorable step back to the early days of aviation and brought to life the air battles between the Knights of the Sky, as they were known.
Saturday's practice day was spectacular.
Those in the crowd got to see pretty much the whole show, as the weather was stunning and the acrobatic displays were able to fly high and free.
Sunday's weather for the big day was ordinary, and low cloud and rain threatened to spoil the occasion. But that didn't deter a very good-sized crowd from turning out and being thrilled by the air and ground action.
And it is really important that people in Tauranga and its surrounding areas get in behind occasions like the Classics of the Sky and the Jetsprint Championships.
Too often we don't support things here and that leads to people not bringing shows or events to this city, or else people just give up trying to put on things to entertain us.
The air show is a treasure for this city. It brings in thousands of visitors from out of town and boosts our local economy by doing so. It also brings national focus on to Tauranga and gives us a lot of good publicity.
The folk at Classic Flyers won't thank me for saying this but I would love to see it as an annual event.
Having seen the blood they sweated to bring the whole thing together, I know that would be a massive ask.
Well done to all at Classic Flyers, from the organisers through to the hundreds of volunteers who helped it run so smoothly.
And thanks to Tauranga Rotary for its media tent. It was perfectly placed near the action, and the lunchbags and coffees were much appreciated by those of us behind cameras.
Speaking of which, I may not see anyone for the next week or so as I go through my images from the air show.
It's not often I say that I'm almost photo'd out but, having taken 5000 or so images over the weekend, I'm not picking up my camera again for a day or so.
I RECKON retailers in the Bay of Plenty need to take a bit of time out to teach their staff about etiquette when dealing with potential customers.
The other week I called a store and asked if a certain product was in stock. The young woman said she did not know and tried to end the phone conversation.
I suggested she check with her manager.
"Okay," she said, then there was silence. More silence. And even more silence.
"Is that all?" she eventually asked.
"Have you asked your manager yet?" I inquired.
"Umm, no. I'll do it now, shall I?"
Probably be a good idea, missy, I thought.
Next up was the male assistant in an electrical section of a major chain who approached me the other day with a "Howzit bud? Youse okay?"
I'm afraid I waved him away with a "just browsing, thanks" and vowed never to buy electrical goods from that place again.
Lift your training, guys.
UM, I'M not quite sure how to raise this yarn, but it seems a Kiwi gal is, according to a media report, "trailblazing a new literary trend - women reading books aloud in the nude".
She runs the London chapter (excuse the pun) of Naked Girls Reading, a female troupe that strips off and reads to audiences at intimate theatre venues.
The gal says the popular show isn't smutty and that people soon forget the performers have no clothes on.
I'm sorry, if an attractive woman is naked on a stage, I don't care if she's reading Bible extracts I'll still appreciate the form over the substance.
