Aerobatic Display Teams

Aerobatic Displays offer a chance for the Fleet Air Arm to show off their skills to the public.

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) has maintained an aerobatic display team since 1948. The display teams generate publicity and encourage recruitment. The Black Cats are the current display team comprising of two Lynx Helicopters. The teams perform at air shows all over the British Isles and sometimes abroad. Many hours go into the aerobatic training as manoeuvres require split second timing. Use the links below to find out more:

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Five Buccaneers and Six Sea Vixens flying in formation. The vixens are in the Simons Sircus, 892 Squadron 1968. FAA

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To find out more about 806 Squadrons visit to America, select next.

806 Squadron : The Royal Navy goes to North America

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Forming the team

806 Squadron was re-formed in 1948 as the official Royal Navy Aerobatic Team with three Sea Hornet F.20s, a Sea Vampire and two Sea Furies. All pilots were hand-picked by the Commanding Officer Lt Cdr D. B. Law. On the 25 May 1948 the team sailed with their aircraft onboard HMCS Magnificent for a tour of North America.

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ABB Clark, D B Law (CO), PB Reynolds and I H F Martin. 806 Squadron was formed to display British Naval aircraft in North America. (FAA)

Flying at Idlewild Airport

The Sea Vampire, flown by Lieutenant Commander Law was the first aircraft to fly into the new Idlewild Airport in New York. The team went on to take part in the opening ceremony of Idlewild. The Airport later became known as J F Kennedy Airport.

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806 Squadron formed in 1948 to display British Naval aircraft in North America. They consisted of a mixture of aircraft including Sea Hornet and Sea Vampire. Their engines are running prior to taxiing. (FAA)

Air Displays

In the summer of 1948, during their tour of North America, 806 Squadron set the precedent for the high standard of Naval areobatic displays we have come to expect today. They caused a sensation in the USA as the US pilots had nothing to compare.

Displays were performed at Dorval, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls as well as New York.

738 Squadron: Red Seahawks

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Forming the team

In June 1957 738 squadron was chosen to take part in a combined Naval display at the Farnborough Air show in September 1957, despite having a full operational programme.

It was decided to have a team of five Hawker Seahawks, permission was granted to paint the aircraft bright red with 'Royal Navy' in big white letters under the wing. They were the first aerobatic team to produce smoke at will, by modifying the fuel injection system.

Air Displays

The performance at Farnborough was very popular and even made the New York Times. During the season the squadron took part in 17 air displays finishing at RNAS Abbotsinch, now Glasgow Airport.

Naval Fighter School: Fred's Five

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Forming the team

This team was formed in 1962. There were five pilots and five observers from the Naval Fighter School at RNAS Yeovilton. Fred was Lieutenant Commander Peter Reynolds, a very experienced flyer, a Test Pilot with thousands of hours in the air.

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Fred's Five aerobatic team 1962 (FAA)

They flew the De Havilland Sea Vixen, a high level interceptor day and night fighter. Despite its size and complexity, its handling qualities were very good, although not designed for aerobatics.

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Fred's Five aerobatic team 1962 (FAA)

Air Displays

In order to make the displays more spectacular each aircraft was modified to make coloured smoke, this is done by injecting dyed oil from a small tank under the port wing into the exhaust.

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Fred's Five aerobatic team 1962 (FAA)

To find out more about Simon's Sircus, select Next

892 Squadron: Simon's Sircus

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Front cover of the offical album of Simons Sircus, 892 Squadron 1968. (FAA)

Forming the team

Formed in 1968 and commanded by Lieutenant Commander Simon Idiens, who was a founder member of Fred's Five and gave his name to this display team.

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Sea vixens on the ground with the aircrews and their mascot a lioness. They are flying with the Simons Sircus, 892 Squadron 1968. (FAA)

Simon's Sircus were formed as an aerobatic team in 1968 after 892 squadron disembarked from HMS Hermes and reduced to six aircraft. The team prepared for the display season at RNAS Yeovilton between operational sorties which could see them embark on a carrier anywhere in the world.

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A Sea vixen with one of her air crew and mascot, a lioness. (FAA)

There is a huge level of skill involved in looping a 20 ton frontline fighter. Nearly all the pilots and observers were 'First Timers' to aerobatics, the average age was only 26; the youngest was Sub-Lieutenant Taylor Scott at 21 years old.

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Air crew and mascot, a lioness. (FAA)

Air Displays

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Six Sea Vixen flying in formation with Simons Sircus, 892 Squadron 1968. The aircraft was originally known as the DH 110; an aircraft designed for both the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm as an all-weather, missile-armed, high-speed jet fighter. (FAA)

The routines flown by the Sea Vixen had been specially devised to show off the capabilities of the aircraft. Much credit for this must be given to the Observers who sat tucked in a confined space known as the Coal Hole. This was on the side next to the pilot. Their job was to give directions by calling out height and speed information, while constantly checking their instruments.

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Five Sea Vixen flying in formation with Simons Sircus, 892 Squadron 1968. (FAA)

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Six Sea Vixen flying in formation over a crowd at an air show. They are flying with the Simons Sircus, 892 Squadron 1968. (FAA)

705 Squadron: The Sharks

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Sharks display team in the air. (FAA)

Forming the team

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The sharks display team inside their helicopter. They fly a red gazelle helicopter. Taken from the team line book. (FAA)

The Sharks were formed in 1975. The team consisted of Squadron Instructors from 705 Squadron. 705 Squadron was a helicopter training squadron.

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The Sharks display team taken from their linebook. (FAA)

Air displays

The six members of the Sharks flew the highly manoeuvrable Westland-Aerospatiale Gazelle HT2 helicopter with its high speed and agility.

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Diagrams of the areobatic routines of the sharks display team taken from the team line book. (FAA)

The 8 minute sequence consisted of breathtaking opposition manoeuvres, bringing the rotor blades to within fifteen feet of each other, at closing speeds of over 200 miles per hour.

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Diagrams of the areobatic routines of the sharks display team taken from the team line book. (FAA)

At the time they were one of the few helicopter display teams in the world, and were very active at UK summer air shows.

702 Squadron: The Black Cats

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Forming the team

The Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team were formed was formed in 2001 and is the RN's elite display team. They fly the Augusta-Westland Lynx HAS8 helicopter and are based at RNAS Yeovilton. Crews are selected from the instructors of 702 Naval Air Squadron to fly the display. The crews remain permanent for the season, so keeping continuity throughout the team.

Air Displays

The Black Cats offer a unique pairs formation display that utilises the dynamic nature of the helicopter. The team has displayed in front of crowds of up to 750,000 at airshows throughout the UK.

The carefully choreographed display fully utilises the precision and aerobatic capabilities of the Lynx. The display features high-speed crosses, close formation work and opposing manoeuvres.