My “Big Picture” assignment. I have a particular love for this helicoper more than a disdain for Mrs. Palin. The helicopter here is a Russian made MI-8 which I flew in while working in Afghanistan. I was fortunate enough to log nearly 1300 hours as a passenger.

After some rapport building vodka and smokes my Ukrainian pilots trained me on how to fly the beast. Logging nearly 40 hours behind the collective I was able to fly a MI-8 over the snow capped Hindu Kush through the perilous Korenghal Valley and to numerous military bases. My thinks go out to Rost, Oleg and Ivan for their instruction and faith in my flying abilities. Spaciba pratiya parushio, eta zaybies!!!