Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical IF Macro

I see this lens is back ordered in all photo equipment reytailers, does anyone know when Tamron is going to release it for public sale?

This lens seems to be exactly what I want for my XTi: it has the long range (28-300 mm), good glass (at least taking from Tamron's current 28-300 mm, I heard the glass is the same) plus the new VC: Vibration Compensation, Tamron's equivalent to Image Stabilization. Retail is for $599. I can't wait to mount this on my Xti.

I am seriously looking at this lens for a do all for aerial photography at work.

Aerial phtography... cool, I use to work at Pan American surveys in Miami, exposing large 3'x3' prints in the darkroom. I enjoyed the job, all day locked up in that darkroom, just me and the radio. I went on a few flights on the twin Cherokee, snapping shots over South Florida on that huge 12" x 60" roll of film. That was my one and only ever paying photo job. At least one skill I learned in high school was useful!! lol