Mil 8 helicopter loaded

Since the airstrip we're working on doesn't have any easy access, we
have to send supplies like fuel and food down by helicopter. This last
Mil 8 shipment is one in the long line of deliveries made in the past
four years. Other shipments have been tractors, fuel, roofing iron,
chainsaws, generators, and medical supplies. This one includes 16 fuel
drums with lots of food totaling out to 3904kg (~8600lbs).

Anton and spent two full days in Mt. Hagen getting drums filled and
ready to go at Hevilift (5 or 6 at a time) in the back of the pickup.
We also built some nice boxes to hold spray cans and batteries.
Included in the shipment were two solar panels to give the house power.

Since the Mil 8 is usually used for offloading barges and for the gold
mine, it's pretty amazing that they work us into the schedule around
their maintenance times. What that also means is we have about 48 hours
of notice before our flight is scheduled... In other words, that was a
busy two days. Good thing we don't have to do that every week!