I have the following lenses:
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IF-ED
This lens is very handy for most distances. It is widely believed to be a little soft, and that matches my experience. I've found that the VR feature should be disabled when taking still or long exposed shots.
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4-5.6D IF-ED
This is a great lens. Despite losing a stop, I've found that it consistently produces sharper and more vibrant images than the 18-200 mentioned above - in overlapping focal lengths. So if I'm shooting anywhere between 70-200mm, I'll choose this lens over the 18-200. Obvious drawback is that it won't work for close shots.
AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8 ED
This is an old lens I used w/ 35mm equipment and I was amazed at the quality it produces on my D300. This lens is the sharpest, clearest of any I've used. Unfortunately, it's a prime 60mm, and I'm not usually at a distance from my subject where that length works. If I have room to position myself so that 60mm fits the subject - this is the lens to use.
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX
Brand new, and haven't shot aviation photos with it yet. For indoor residential shots and some dramatic artistic shots, it's pretty cool. I got it with aircraft interiors & cockpits in mind.