Have you ever wondered why Lincolnshire is known as Bomber County? The nickname comes from its relationship with the RAF, a story that goes back over 100 years. The first military air base in the country was opened in Lincolnshire in 1918, and by the end of the Second World War there were almost 70 separate air bases where bomber planes like Lancasters and Wellingtons, as well as fighters, took to the skies to carry out missions across the North Sea. There are fewer aircraft stationed here nowadays, but crowds of people come to marvel at flying machines of the past and present at the RAF Waddington International Air Show every year. One of the main draws is the Red Arrows aerobatic display team. But aeroplanes aren’t the only crowd pleasers, spectators also marvel at the flight of high performance helicopters.

This region is a great place to make the leap from the spectator stands to the cockpit itself. These aircrafts here aren’t reserved for military test pilots and RAF hot shots, you can also experience the unique sensation of rotor powered flight here. And best of all, not even the pilot’s seat is out of bounds. That’s right, you can learn to fly a helicopter yourself, with the help of an expert instructor, in a county that’s perfectly suited to aviation. So clear the runways, fasten your seat belts, and chocks away!

Where to do a helicopter ride around Lincolnshire?

• Lincoln: The most prominent feature of this city’s skyline is the 160 metre high tower of the cathedral. From its completion in 1311, it’s believed that it was the tallest building in the world for over 200 years, and it’s still impressive to this day. The cathedral was a landmark for aviators during the Second World War, welcoming bomber and fighter pilots back home after completing their missions.

• Lincolnshire Wolds: One of the reasons that is so well suited to aviation is that most of the county is flat. But in the northeast, the land rises to an area of green, rolling hills, known as the Wolds and protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The natural landscape is charming when viewed from above, as are the quaint towns that nestle in the folds of the hills. A good example is Louth, where St James’ Church boasts a spire that almost rivals the tower of Lincoln Cathedral in terms of height.

• Skegness: The quintessential English seaside resort, Skegness has it all. Long sandy beaches, the pier and amusement parks, and even a seal sanctuary make this a wonderful destination for a summer holiday. You can enjoy views of all of the landmarks, while avoiding the crowds, but flying over the town in a helicopter. Further afield, you’ll see the Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve, and the Norfolk coastline across the Wash estuary.

• The Humber: This estuary is one of the most important navigable waterways in the country. There are numerous ports along its length, chief among which Kingston upon Hull on the north bank and Grimsby on the south. The magnificent Humber Bridge, which was the longest single span suspension bridge in the world for 17 years from its completion in 1981, connects Lincolnshire with the East Riding of Yorkshire across the estuary.

• Thornton Abbey: The ruins of this once imposing abbey can be seen from helicopter flights in the north of the county. Not much is still standing of the chapel and cloisters, but the huge gatehouse is still intact. This ornate structure reflects the status of the abbey as one of the wealthiest institutions in the country, before it was closed by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries.

Options for organising a flight

- Pleasure or scenic flights in Lincolnshire take off right on the seaside, at Skegness airfield. From here, you can take a 5 minute buzz along the coast to get an idea of what travelling by helicopter is like without committing for the long haul. But even on this short ride, you’ll cover around 6 miles of ground. Longer flights are also available for those who want to see more of what this area has to offer. There are 15 and 30 minute options available, perfect for taking a tour of what is one of the largest counties in the country.

- If you don’t like the idea of just being a passenger, you should head for Humberside International Airport, where you can take part in a trial lesson. You’ll be accompanied by a professional pilot, who’ll give you a preflight briefing, before climbing into the helicopter and taking to the skies. Once at a safe altitude, they’ll transfer control of the aircraft to you. A trial lesson lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour, giving you time to learn some of the basic manoeuvres like changing altitude and direction. You’ll be surprised to learn that just staying till, or hovering, is actually one of the hardest skills to master. If you want to have a go at it, you should book onto a pilot for a day course, where you’ll take part in multiple flights over the course of a day.

Requirements to do this activity

For budding helicopter pilots, there’s a choice of models for your trial flight. You can take the Robinson R22 or R44. The R22 is a lightweight, agile machine, but the R44 has 4 seats, which means that you can take some spectators with you and impress them with your flying skills. If you’re going to take a sightseeing flight through the skies of this region, a larger one - a Bell 206 JetRanger - will be your tour vehicle. Up to 6 people can travel in this aircraft. You’ll be asked to supply information about the weight of yourself and others in your group when organising your flight, to make sure that it can go ahead safely and effectively.

Come to taste this adventure, there’s no way that you’ll regret it.