As a former Army NCO pilot trained at someone else's expense in a gas-turbine powered helicopter, the closest I came to getting a ride in one was a surprise invitation during a practice diversion on a check-ride. My companion may have held other ideas, since he was looking at a career in civil aviation, but as we left Sherburn in our Lynx, I turned to Mario and asked if he was serious about driving a cattle-frightening leaf-blower for fun.