Regarding shot of the Mi-26, the same a/c (tail # 06029) was later contracted to provide logistical support to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. ("92/93)
As a radio operator/base manager, I flew 100-120 hrs a month on same a/c (callsign UN 251) to practically every corner of Cambodia.
It still amazes me as to the variety of work the machine was capable of doing. To name just a few of the items that were carried; 18t of 20L water bottles, 17t of mortars, 80 fully armed Dutch marines, 16t military forklift, 20t sections of an iron bridge slung on a 70 footer, 2 x snowcats (16 man) for Dutch marines..just driven straight in, 3 x Toyota Landcruisers, 20t of Jet A to resupply bladders used by millitary pumas, some weatherhaven camps with a coupla hundred bicycles thrown in for upcoming elections, shipping containers etc..etc..
Most of the flying was either at treetop or above 3000agl with a spiral descent to avoid small arms fire.
Suprisingly, in 12 months of flying the closest we came to becoming grounded in the field was due to a weak battery which was required to start the APU which in turn provided bleed air for main engine start. That was it!
From Cambodia, we took 7 days to ferry the a/c back to northern Russia.
Oh..and from a flying point of view..it likes to have at least 5 ton onboard..otherwise it gets a little figgety on the mains when landing. (must be a ground effect thing)