Our work on George Clarke's Amazing Spaces: the Sea King helicopter glamping pod
Back in 2016 we supplied one of our more unusual jobs. Martyn and Louise Steedman, farmers near Stirling, had bought a decommissioned Royal Navy Sea King helicopter at auction and were turning it into a glamping pod. Their conversion was followed by Channel 4 for George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, and it went out in series 6, episode 6, Helicopter and Rare Campervan, first shown on 27 October 2016.
What we supplied
- Two ITC Redwood table leg systems
- A table leg storage kit, so the legs could be stowed away neatly when they weren't needed
- A wooden slat style table top in a Union Jack design
The artwork for the Union Jack table top, with its rounded end.
The Redwood was a good fit for a space like this. The leg locks into a low floor base with a twist T-bolt, so the table is solid when it's up, and it comes out quickly when you want the floor back. Inside a helicopter, where every bit of floor counts, that matters.
It's a long way from a motorhome dinette, but it's the same job we do every day: getting a strong, good looking table into a small space, and being able to put it away again.
About the Sea King
The helicopter, Sea King ZA127, was retired from active service in 1994 and used for naval training until 2002. The Steedmans bought it at an MoD auction in March 2016 and converted it into a glamping pod for a family, with a small kitchen, a shower room, a bed tucked into the tail and seating up in the cockpit. You can still stay in it at Helicopter Glamping near Stirling.
Watch it
The episode is on Channel 4's website as George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, series 6, episode 6, and Channel 4 Homes shared a clip of the helicopter on their Facebook page: George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, Glampsite Helicopter.
The Scotsman covered the conversion at the time too: Sea King helicopter transformed into Scots holiday home.
Working on a conversion of your own?
Whether it's a van, a boat or something a bit more unusual, if you need a table top made to size or a leg system that'll take it, have a look at our guide to choosing a table leg or give us a ring on 01823 740022.
Many thanks,
Keith (aka Chippy)
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