Offers of Helicopter Flights Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is a county of myths and legends. The most famous are the stories of Robin Hood, who made a career of stealing the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham’s riches before disappearing with his Merry Men into the depths of Sherwood Forest. To the Sheriff's great annoyance, his men-at-arms couldn’t penetrate the thick woodland to find the outlaws’ hiding place on horseback. It’s lucky for Robin Hood that he didn’t try to run his operation in the modern day, because the law enforcement agencies have a piece of kit that would have put a stop to him in no time - helicopters. The good news is that these fantastic flying machines, which are unmatched when it comes to aerial observation, aren’t just in the hands of the elites. In fact here, you can climb into a helicopter and take a tour of the area - or even be the pilot yourself! Keep reading to find out how.

Where are the best places to go on a helicopter flight in Nottinghamshire?

• Nottingham: The stronghold of the Sheriff of Nottingham is no longer standing, but the site of the old Norman Castle is currently occupied by a fine, Stuart Restoration era fortified mansion. It’s an obvious place for a castle, atop a rock with cliffs that fall 40 metres down to the city below on two sides. In its shadow, the city centre, characterised by Victorian red brick buildings, extends to the river. Here are two other highlights of a helicopter flyover of the city - the Trent Bridge international cricket ground, and the City Stadium, home of Forest FC.

• South: The area around the city is characterised by stately homes and parkland. Wollaton Hall, built in 1580, was described as the architectural sensation of the age. Its facade of pale stone and huge windows was unlike anything anyone had ever seen at the time, and remains striking to this day, especially if seen from above. On the other side of the city, the Holme Pierrepont Country Park is home to the National Watersports Centre. This huge facility boasts a 2,000 metre long rowing lake, an artificial whitewater course and many leisure facilities on dry land.

• North: The north of the county is dominated by the woodland of old Sherwood Forest. In amongst the trees is the legendary Major Oak, a huge, ancient, oak tree which supposedly was the meeting point for Robin Hood and his Merry Men. To the west, the plains of the midlands rise up to the first highlands of the Pennines mountain chain in the Peak District.

Takeoff points

For flights over the city and the southern part of the county, you should head for Nottingham Heliport, just off the A46. It’s in a very flat area, which means that within seconds of taking off, the landscape starts to open up below you and the enjoyment of far reaching, 360 degree views can begin.

In the north, the starting point for helicopter flights is Gamston Airport, near the town of Retford. Retford is one of the oldest market towns in England, having gained a royal charter almost a thousand years ago. The market square is visible to this day, bounded on one side by the distinctive town hall - just one of the highlights of a pleasure flight in this area.

Options for organising an experience

- There really is nothing like experiencing this activity. If you’ve travelled by plane and think that you know what to expect, you’re in for a surprise! To begin with, helicopters are the only aircraft that can take off vertically. In addition, they can combine high speed cruising with geostatic hovering. This makes them the perfect vehicle for going sightseeing on a pleasure flight. This region has never looked so good as it does from the cabin of one of these aircraft, with the urban and rural landscape giving way to the wilds of Sherwood forest and the uplands of the Peak District. You can complete a flight of 6 miles in less than 10 minutes to get a taste of flying, or take a 15 or 30 minute flight for your tour to include the city and the county’s countryside.

- Exciting as that sounds, we understand if you’re the kind of person who’s content to be a passenger. That’s why we’re thrilled to tell you that you can take trial lessons from either of the heliports and get your hands on the controls. You’ll be in the good hands of a flight instructor who’ll give you a briefing about the machine whilst on the ground and take you up into the air. Then they’ll hand over control of the helicopter to you. In a session that lasts just 60 or 90 minutes, you can learn to change the altitude, go forwards and do some basic turning manoeuvres, but it might surprise you to learn that the manoeuvre that seems the most simple - hovering - is actually one of the most difficult to master. If you want to have a go at it, sign up for a pilot for a day experience which includes multiple flights and ground school tuition.

Requirements to do this activity

This is the most exclusive way to travel around the county. Your flight will take place in a Robinson R44, one of the most popular helicopters in the world, or its rival, the Bell 206 Jetranger. They’re both fantastic machines with large windows for aerial observation and advanced gyro systems for a smooth ride. The Robinson seats 3 people and the pilot, the Bell can take 4 people alongside the pilot.

A trial flight can also take place in one of these helicopters or in the R44’s little cousin, the Robinson R22. This little nipper has 2 seats, one for you and one for the pilot, and is a responsive machine with a lot of personality. Passenger weight is a consideration in all flights and you will be asked to supply the weight of each member of your party before your experience.

Flying was never so accessible, so what are you waiting for? Book the experience today.