The news report was half a tonne, but I'm told it was really only 400 kg. I've slung enough 400kg loads up mountains in a 206L to know that a 206L can do it easy. And it didn't have to go far, only down to the monopods.
And as for the budget couldn't afford a bigger net on the previous aerial bombing practice, that is just dead wrong. Sure, the net was too small for the load, but there was a bigger net available. The guys that rigged the load didn't think to use it. That incident was an eye opener for all concerned because the empty net whipped up when the drums fell out and the pallet put a dent in the tail boom.
http://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/sto...ddock/?cs=1198
Look how it was rigged, I'm just stunned nobody thought it would go aerodynamic rigged like that.