August 1, 2018 1.56 pm This story is over 67 months old

Converted helicopter holiday let opening soon

Holiday let with a difference
An iconic Lynx Helicopter is being turned into family holiday accommodation.

An iconic Lynx Helicopter is being turned into family holiday accommodation on the former RAF Wainfleet site.

Director at Homestead Property Lets Ltd Will Roughton, who bought RAF Wainfleet after the land was closed by the MOD, told Lincolnshire Reporter that the investment on the project is somewhere around £20,000 in total.

The Military Westland Lynx Helicopter will sit on the same site as the 1970s control tower and three RAF bunkers, which he has already renovated.

The cockpit before

The floor before

The cockpit controls will remain in place for visitors, but hopefully with a few buttons wired up so that lights come on and possible sound effects for children to enjoy.

The main part of the helicopter will then be separate to achieve a high-standard finish, so a window will be put in to stop drafts, but allow the guests to see into the tail which still has all of its original workings. These are now lit up by green LEDs on the length of the tail.

The accommodation space itself will consist of a sofa bed, coffee table, mini bar, TV, Kettle and all necessary accompaniments.

The price will be around £25 per night, whilst it is marketed as a bolt on, but Will’s plans are to eventually convert an old generator shed into a shower and toilet block, allowing the helicopter to be used more like a camping pod.

At this stage the likely price would then be around £50 per night.

Cutting out work being done inside the helicopter

Part upholstered

Boarded out

Will told Lincolnshire Reporter: “To begin with it will be a ‘bolt on’ to one of the other buildings. As there are no facilities any customer booking one of the other four buildings in the complex will have the opportunity to book the helicopter as well and can therefore use the facilities in their building.

“We are currently upholstering the inside and then furnishing it, so are around a month away from opening. Stripping it out took several months.

“We bought RAF Wainfleet and turned the tower into accommodation and thought it would be novel to have something military themed to go with glamping.

“We are also toying with the idea of tanks and planes accommodation in the future.”

An overview of the camping area

Will approached electrical manufacturer Heat Mat whose Combymat heating system will be used to keep the interior cosy.

The Combymat is a super-thin electric heating mat less than 2mm thick which produces 150 watts of heat for every square meter of floor that it covers.

A spokesperson for Heat Mat told Lincolnshire Reporter: “We are delighted to have been able to help Will Roughton find a cost effective solution for heating this truly unique holiday accommodation, which makes a real change from our day to day work of heating bathrooms, kitchens and conservatories.”