And they were within 200 miles of two substantial PLAN bases - less than an hour's flying time for a good patrol aircraft, and helicopters, loaded with Russian sonobuoys.

Ten billion yen turn out to take up a lot of space, so much so that a helicopter loaded with it barely has room left for the pilot.

The other official said that Mr. Cheney was first told that the plane heading for the White House might be an airliner, private plane or helicopter loaded with explosives.

A half-dozen Colombian warships and patrol boats maneuvered in the bay surrounding the peninsula where the talks were held and helicopters loaded with anti-terrorist teams clattered overhead.

"I notice that in all this time you haven't bothered to tell me what three armed helicopters loaded with ATF agents were doing over my property in the first place."

Recently Weyerhaeuser, the world's largest timber company, flew a helicopter loaded with journalists over its land, trying to show how the company can accommodate wildlife within its tree farms.

Their weapons are chain saws, helicopters loaded with water buckets and pulaskis, the combination ax and hoe used to dig containment trenches through the combustible trees.

Reporters drew lots to get on a helicopter loaded with ammunition and medical supplies, and Mohr won.

On the way to the tubular structure, Cheney was told that another plane, or a helicopter loaded with explosives, was headed for the White House.

The Yugoslav Army has also been routinely sending helicopters and transport planes loaded with supplies to the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Banja Luka, United Nations officials said.