Mexico Buys Two 'Elephants'

Mi-26T carried a 20-ton frozen mammoth last year.

ILA 2000: The mammoth-lifting Mi-26 is known as "Elephant" in Mexico. But Rostvertol, its manufacturer, doesn't mind what the Mexicans call it -- they have bought two of them.

The world's largest heavy-lifter scored its latest sales success this year. An Mi-26 delivered to the Mexican Air Force in January brought such favorable reviews that Mexican President Ernesto Zadillo decided it had better have another. The contract was signed in April, and Mexican pilots and crews have already completed training in Russia.

The "Elephants"will be used primarily to respond to natural disasters and emergencies in fire- and earthquake-prone Mexico.

©Show News 2000