It is difficult that in a Hollywood action movie a helicopter does not intervene on the screen to embitter the peace of the protagonists or, on the contrary, serves them to escape from a cursed place and thus avoid a fateful future.

Who does not remember the scenes of "Daring Lies" in which Jamie Lee Curtis ruled an almost indestructible machine, or the odyssey of a mountaineer in the skin of Sylvester Stallone trying to save the passengers of a hijacked plane in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado?

If your idea is to become a pilot for a day, as if by magic, we have the best option to make you feel like James Bond. And with the added bonus of flying over the city known as the city of the seven hills, Lisbon. What would a helicopter flight be if it didn't take place among skyscrapers and massive architectural works like those of the great capitals of the world?

In the city of light there are helicopter flights with a peculiarity: the capacity of the aircraft is for 4 people including the instructor, ideal for sharing the activity with a couple of friends, several family members or with a couple.

Undoubtedly, the best possible gift with which to entertain one of your loved ones. In addition, one of the companies operating here provides transportation to the place of departure. Many others have a bilingual guide service that uses other languages to communicate, such as English or French, which enriches the scope of the experience.

Where are the best areas to fly over Lisbon by helicopter?

• Algés: it is near the Paseo de Marítimo where you will find the heliport from which all the tours start. In addition, this area, with its own autonomy, now converted into a dormitory district of Lisbon, is home to one of the most important music festivals in Europe, the NOS Alive. In its interior we find stores, nightlife, restaurants, tourist attractions and a modest architectural jewel, the Anjos Palace. Finally, it is an excellent starting point to explore by helicopter some of the most interesting monuments of the Portuguese capital, three of them declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2007.

What types of tours are available in Lisbon?

This is the main difference between the various helicopter tours offered by the companies in the city: the duration between one and the other. They are usually short rides ranging from 15 minutes to half an hour to get a bird's eye view of towns, mountains or natural wonders.

- 10 minutes: during this excursion you fly over some of the most emblematic places of the capital at an altitude of 3000 meters, such as the Belém Tower or the Jerónimos Monastery, both from the beginning of the 16th century. However, the most amazing surprise comes immediately after when the helicopter flies over the impressive 25th of April Bridge with the National Sanctuary of Christ the King in the background, very similar to the art deco statue of the Brazilian Christ the Redeemer.

- 15 minutes: this tour hardly differs from the previous one since the same locations are visited except for some additions such as the Monument of the Discoveries, built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, a Portuguese prince of huge celebrity. A Robinson R-44 helicopter departs from the esplanade located on the Paseo Marítimo and, in order to immerse us in the history and culture of the city, crosses some of its most important locations.

- 20 minutes: here we take the opposite direction, towards the west, to get to know other treasures of the region. Here, the idea is to cross the mouth of the Tagus River, guarded by the imposing Fort of São Julião da Barra, the only one of the Vauban style preserved in the whole country, and continue to the coasts of Estoril and Cascais, two of the most beautiful beach towns in Portugal. And if not, look for "Praia de Santa Marta" in Cascais and marvel at this intimate strip of sand hidden at the foot of the Palacio do Conde de Castro Guimarães.

- 30 minutes: the largest of the tours, it moves on horseback between the city and other surrounding towns in order to discover other places of great interest. In addition to the aforementioned 25th April Bridge and the Statue of Christ the King, there are other magical sites, also on the UNESCO list, such as the colorful Pena Palace, the captivating Quinta da Regaleira, with its mysterious tunnels and beautiful gardens, and Castelo dos Mouros, a paradigm of Moorish architecture. Sintra became in the 19th century one of the first cradles of romantic architecture in the Old Continent and these magnificent examples attest to this.

- Visit more helicopter flight: a company combines several experiences over five hours that include, in addition to the usual helicopter flight, a guided walking tour that starts from the popular Pedro IV Square, a streetcar ride and a boat ride on the Tagus River that ends its journey in the district of Belém. An alternative that aims to alternate action, adventure, with the more didactic side of a cultural visit.

What are the requirements to do the activity?

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a helicopter flight over Lisbon is that the companies do not demand any requirements from their clients. Everyone is welcome regardless of age, weight or physical level. Likewise, it is not necessary to have demonstrable experience, in fact the most reasonable thing is that you have never ridden in an airship of such characteristics.

For this reason, these sections, of short duration, are ideal for beginners. One of the clauses that we do suggest to apply refers to children under 3 years of age, who must ride on their parents' lap. The rest, those above this age, will occupy their corresponding seats.

Are these tours safe?

Of course, several factors combine to make it one of the most satisfying activities to do in Lisbon, without any risk. Precisely for this reason, helicopter tours have been in increasing demand in recent decades. The instructor who controls the commands of the aircraft is highly qualified, with the most prestigious qualifications. You will have to abide by some basic rules since, before leaving, he provides a series of mandatory guidelines on board the aircraft: put on your seat belt or turn off your electronic devices in order to avoid interference in the communication systems.

In addition, it is always the pilot who, before take-off, decides whether or not to take off, based on the atmospheric conditions and three fundamental indicators: wind speed, visibility and cloud height. Other criteria may finally help you to choose one or the other option.

All passengers, without exception, must wear a safety helmet on their heads, which they will not remove during the entire trip. In case of emergency, the aircraft compartments house life jackets. In addition, all occupants are connected to both the pilot and the control tower by means of headsets that enable messages to be sent.

Moreover, apart from all the mechanisms mentioned above, the machine itself is safer than other smaller aircraft due to several reasons: the main one is its superb maneuverability, but, in addition, they do not require a large area for landing and they stay in the air at a shorter distance from the ground.

What should I wear on the day of the activity?

The recommended clothing for the tour will depend exclusively on the prevailing weather conditions at the time of boarding. Given the high temperatures, during the summer season it is advisable to wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, since the sun shines through the windows of the gyroplane. It is also advisable to use sunscreen and wear sunglasses.

For the winter, the circumstances change substantially. Still, the higher the helicopter rises, the lower the temperature gradually drops. That's why it's wise to cover up with a shirt, long pants and a jacket, sweatshirt or sweater. Also, depending on your degree of tolerance, it would be reasonable to bring a warm coat, scarf and gloves.

When is the best time to do this activity in Lisbon?

The type of weather in Lisbon is mild and warm almost all year round, so these tours can be done at any time as long as the weather allows it, that is, neither rain, nor excessive wind or snow. It is true that during the months of the summer the most optimal conditions are reproduced to put it into practice. If you decide to opt for this season, you will live a more relaxed experience than in other periods.

We assure you that crossing the sky of Lisbon on board of an aircraft of these characteristics is something unique. Why don't you hire one of the tours that we offer you in Yumping?