Hi Gnomey,
Agreed on the Gifs. They screw up with the shadows.
I agree with wojtec the last one is best, the others are too crowded, I think.
I really like your idea and where it is going.
Maybe one suggestion, Could you give the Concorde some shadow? It seems wierd that the UK has a shadow and the Concorde not, while the concorde is in front. The shadow setting should be like the a/c is a litle further from the background then the map and the text.