Im working in East Timor at the moment and have scammed a few rides on the MI-8's and the MI-26 here. The MI26 is awsome - it has about the same payload ability as a C130 and It is bloody amazing to see it do a sling load of a chock full shipping container. The ride is as smooth as silk as well. Also has these great porthole windows so that you can hang out the side of the aircraft and when you look up inside the pax area you can see the completely exposed tail rotor shaft spinning away - awsome machine. Pitty the pilots can barely speak a word of english - Im sure they have some great stories to tell.