My copies are of the 2nd version, otherwise I wouldn’t have recommended it.
The pieces are in the primary colours: red, blue, green & yellow.
Also the board is simpler, as you get a “console” for each player to store units, reserves etc:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/82252/power?size=original
Also browsing around my collection I noticed these planes from Airways:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/525846/airways?size=medium
Just wondered if people would prefer aircraft mounted on stands like this; you could have them on a peg that slotted into the stand or into a corresponding slot on a carrier.
More expensive to produce, but gives a more imposing impression of air power.