For almost 30 years in his role of an aircraft maintenance engineer Rick Meehan worked on Sea King helicopters in the Royal Australian Navy.
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He's even had the odd occasion to sleep in them.
Mind you, they were never anything like he experienced during a recent visit to the UK.
Along with great mate Fred Campbell, himself a RAN veteran of 25 years experience and also an aircraft maintenance engineer, who worked on Iroquois, Squirrel and Seahawk helicopters, they stayed in a Sea King which has been converted into a bed and breakfast.
Stirling farmer Martyn Steedman and his wife Louise purchased the aircraft in the early 2000s when the Ministry of Defence was paying off the Sea Kings from the Royal Navy.
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The couple put in a bid and were successful in acquiring the 17-metre aircraft for 7000 pounds (about $12,800 Australian in today's market).
The helicopter retired from active service in 1994 but was used in naval training until 2002.
The aircraft was driven 320 miles by road from Grantham, Lincolnshire, to Mains Farm Wigwams, Thornhill about six miles out of Stirling in Scotland.
It has now been transformed into a glamping pod.
"I'd heard about it [the Sea King B and B] and just knew I had to stay in it," Mr Meehan said.
"It was pretty amazing.
I worked on them, flew in them, slept in them but never anything like this - they were never this comfortable - a luxury bed, toilet and shower. It was just brilliant - an amazing transformation.
- Former Royal Australian Navy aircraft maintenance engineer Rick Meehan
"I worked on them, flew in them, slept in them but never anything like this - they were never this comfortable - a luxury bed, toilet and shower.
"It was just brilliant - an amazing transformation.
"Just a great idea."
The aircraft has been converted and can now sleep six, including one in the tail section, has a shower and ensuite, kitchenette and even a bar area in the cockpit.
From the cockpit, holidaymakers can enjoy panoramic views over the Carse of Stirling.
"All the cockpit parts are still there, it's pretty amazing," Mr Meehan said.
"I'd never seen a Sea King so luxurious.
"It's definitely a lot easier to answer the call of nature now - in the old days we would have had to land," he laughed.
Mr Meehan posted photos on Facebook which certainly created a lot of interest, especially among his former 817 Squadron mates at HMAS Albatross.
The pair stayed for two days and visited the nearby Thornhill village.
"There was only a post office/shop/bank all in one and a pub," Mr Campbell said.
"The people were very welcoming and I think we met every dog in the village, that came into the pub and said g'day."
He said it was pretty interesting to see a Sea King just sitting there in the middle of a paddock.
"Not that unusual really," he joked "a bit like what local residents were used to around here.
"What's out of the ordinary about that?"