This is a holiday rental that guarantees a fun-filled atmosphere.
Because it’s a former Royal Navy helicopter. With a beautiful lake right on the doorstep.
Will Roughton, a 45-year-old farmer, spent £35,000 on the Sea King after seeing it in a museum in Wales.
He then transported it to his coastal home in Lincolnshire and spent six months converting the plane into comfortable accommodation for a relaxing break in the UK.
Will revealed: ‘It sleeps four adults and there is room to convert a sofa into a small single bed for an additional child.’
This stunning holiday accommodation is a former Royal Navy Sea King helicopter, transformed into a comfortable home by farmer Will Roughton.
Will spent £35,000 on the plane and flew it to his former military base, RAF Wainfleet, in Friskney, Skegness, on the Lincolnshire coast.
Will spent six months transforming the aircraft into comfortable accommodation for a relaxing break in the UK. Speaking about the helicopter’s previous life, Will said: “It appears the helicopter was used by the Royal Navy’s ‘fleet air force’. Its first flight was on 18 September 1990.”
The beds are covered with duvets and inside the walls are painted a bright yellow.
The helicopter also features a bathroom, a kitchen and an outdoor terrace with rattan furniture and a wooden bench, as well as a barbecue and a fire pit.
Speaking about the helicopter’s previous life, owner Will added: “It appears the helicopter was used by the Royal Navy’s ‘fleet air force’. Its first flight was on 18 September 1990.
The helicopter was part of 848 Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton. Pictured right, the interior takes shape
Outside the helicopter is a covered area with a picnic bench, rattan table and chairs, as well as a barbecue and fire pit (above).
‘He was part of 848 Squadron based at Yeovilton Air Base. I’m afraid I haven’t yet found any record of where he served.’
Tourists will find the helicopter on Will’s property, the former RAF Wainfleet military base in Friskney, Skegness.
In the 1890s the site was an army artillery range and became a World War II bombing practice range in 1938.
The helicopter can accommodate four adults and there is room to convert a sofa into a small single cabin for an additional child.
The helicopter has a bathroom and the beds are covered with duvets.
A stay in the Royal Navy helicopter costs from £130 per night. The picture above shows the double bed and kitchen.
“I was offered to buy the RAF Wainfleet site when it was decommissioned,” said Will.
‘I then decided to convert the original buildings into holiday homes.
‘After completing all that, I decided to look into the possibility of converting military aircraft into staysails.’
The base not only houses the Royal Navy helicopter, but also a combine harvester, an army ambulance, a fire engine and a tank.
Everything can be rented for overnight stays.
There is also ‘the Tower’, a five-storey RAF bombing range control tower which now contains three double rooms.
There are also two aircraft available for hire: a Spitfire and a Jetstream, both seating between four and six people.
Will, who bought the base in 2014, searched the internet for special vehicles that were bought across the UK.
The Sea King is the latest addition to their ‘fleet’.
The various army spaces, including the Sea King helicopter, can be booked via the RAF Wainfleet website: rafwainfleet.uk. A stay on the Royal Navy helicopter starts at £130 per night.
RAF Wainfleet, seen here, is home not only to the Royal Navy helicopter, but also an army ambulance with combine harvester, a fire engine and more, all available for overnight stays.