THE skies of North Yorkshire have been buzzing with aircraft old and new as battle commenced for the hearts, minds and cash of fun-seekers this Bank Holiday weekend.

At Elvington airfield, organisers of the Great Yorkshire Airshow wheeled out the big guns. Britain's most famous aeronautical acrobats, the Red Arrows, flew into action on Sunday to the delight of thousands watching the spectacle.

A few miles away at Rufforth airfield, flight leader Dave Tappin was preparing a counter attack. His squadron was smaller in every detail, but nimbler, too. Ground-based pilots took scaled-down aeroplanes through their paces, proving that the models are as manoeuvrable as their big brothers.

After countless loop-the-loops and flypasts, both sides scrambled to claim victory today. Thousands have flocked to Elvington to watch modern jets and vintage planes swoop and soar. Meanwhile at Rufforth, those behind the Yorkshire Air Spectacular were sure the event had lived up to its name, with crowds set to surpass expectations.

In reality, however, the spat between the two sets of organisers has benefited no one. Previously the models and the real aircraft have been part of the same bill. That allowed visitors to watch them all for one entrance fee.

This year they have either had to choose - or pay twice. Similarly, the organisers have both been forced to spend money to promote two separate shows. To make matters more ludicrous, they chose to stage the shows on the same days.

The best news for everyone would be if this squabble could be settled amicably and the displays reunited for next August Bank Holiday. If that proves impossible, the two shows should be scheduled for different summer weekends. Then at least families would not have to pay out twice in two days to watch those magnificent men and their flying machines.