Navy helicopter starts new career as holiday home

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/19/navy-helicopter-starts-new-career-as-holiday-home

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A search-and-rescue helicopter retired from navy missions has made its final trip – to begin its new life as a holiday home.

Stirling farmer Martyn Steedman bought the Sea King helicopter in an online Ministry of Defence auction for £7,000 and decided to turn it into accommodation complete with a dining area in the cockpit.

The idea came to Steedman and his wife Louise during the Sea Kings’ final flypast over Stirling in January, which marked the end of active service for the entire fleet. “We couldn’t bear to see these much-loved helicopters go on the scrapheap,” he said.

“Our plan is to adapt it into glamping accommodation for a family of five with a quirky cockpit dining area, a mini kitchen, en-suite shower room and flight deck.

“We like to think we offer customers something special to keep them coming back year after year and staying in a Sea King will certainly be a unique experience.”

Their sons Josh, 13, and Harry, nine, hope to be the first to try it out.

Harry said: “When Dad told us what he had bought, we thought he was joking. We were totally gobsmacked, but now we can’t wait for our first night on board.”

The 17-metre-long aircraft travelled 320 miles by road from Grantham, Lincolnshire, to the farm in Thornhill, Stirlingshire, on Tuesday, before being craned into position at the camp site.

The helicopter retired from active service in 1994 and was used in naval training until 2002.