Wildcat Demo Team

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Wildcat Demo Team
The Black Cats
Royal Navy wildcat logo.svg
Wildcat Demo Team logo
Active2001 (2001)–present
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
TypeRoyal Navy Helicopter Display Team
RoleWildcat helicopter flying display
Size6 aircrew and several support crew
Part of Fleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQ RNAS Yeovilton
ColoursGrey and Black
Website Black Cats Helicopter Display Team
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopter AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2
The Black Cats at RIAT 2016 The Black Cats - RIAT 2016 (28336575251).jpg
The Black Cats at RIAT 2016

The Wildcat Demo Team (also known as the Black Cats) are the Royal Navy's helicopter aerobatics display team. The team is composed of two AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-surface (ASuW) helicopters, with the aircraft and crews drawn from 825 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), in Somerset.

Contents

The team performs at airshows and other public events around the UK and Europe. They perform an air display which mixes close formation, opposition and synchronised manoeuvres.

History

Lynx (2001 - 2014)

Westland Lynx HAS3S, 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Yeovilton, seen here in Black Cats colour scheme Westland WG-13 Lynx HAS3S, UK - Navy AN1602175.jpg
Westland Lynx HAS3S, 702 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Yeovilton, seen here in Black Cats colour scheme

The Black Cats helicopter display team were formed in 2001 and performed using the navalised version of the Westland Lynx, a multi-purpose military helicopter. For their first three display seasons, the team was known as the "Lynx Pair", however, the "Black Cats" title was applied to the team instead in 2004. The team's predecessors as the Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team were "The Sharks", who used four red Westland Gazelle helicopters and disbanded in 1992 and some of their routines were incorporated into the "Black Cats" display. [1]

The "Lynx Pair" won 'The Steedman Display Sword' for the best United Kingdom participant at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2003 [2] and as "Les Chats Noirs" performed at the French Navy's 30th Anniversary of operating the Lynx helicopter at Lanvéoc in Brittany.

2010201120122013
Black 1Lt Becky Frater [3] Lt Chris Chambers [4] Lt Dave Fleming [5] Lt 'AJ' Thompson [6] previously Black 2 in 2009. [7]
Black 2Lt Chris Chambers [3] Lt Dave Fleming [4] Lt Ian Brannighan [5]
Lynx Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter close manoeuvre.jpg
Lynx

Lynx & Wildcat (2014)

Due to the transition within the Royal Navy from the Lynx HMA.8 to the Wildcat HMA.2, one of the Lynxes was changed to an AgustaWestland Wildcat. [8]

The 2014 season was the last year with the Lynx HMA.8.

Wildcat (2015 - present)

From the 2015 season onwards the team only used the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 and for the 2015 and 2016 display seasons it used two helicopters.

On 11 June 2015, the Black Cats made public that they had been granted their Public Display Authority (PDA) [9] The inaugural public display of the Black Cats using a pair of AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2, from 825 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton, was at the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight on 13 June 2015. [10]

2015
Black 1Lt David Lilly
Black 2Lt James Woods

It was announced on 17 May 2016 that the Royal Navy’s Black Cats helicopter display team had been formally awarded its Public Display Authority (PDA) by the Royal Navy’s head of the Fleet Air Arm, Rear Admiral Keith Blount. 2016 season team leader and pilot of Black 1, Lieutenant Commander David Lilly in his fourth season, and the pilot of Black 2, Lieutenant Chris Rebbeck, were both Qualified Helicopter Instructors with 825 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton. [11]

The Black Cats were not active and did not display during 2017 or 2018. However, for the 2019 display season, the Black Cats operated with only one AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2. [12]

On 25 May 2019 RNAS Yeovilton announced that the Royal Navy’s Black Cats single helicopter display, piloted by Lieutenant Chris Rebbeck, RN, had been formally awarded its Public Display Authority (PDA) by the Royal Navy’s head of the Fleet Air Arm, Rear Admiral Martin Connell. [13]

Wildcat Demo Team

At the beginning of 2020 the Royal Navy introduced the Wildcat Demo Team for the 2020 display season, as a single AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 from RNAS Yeovilton. It stated the name Black Cats is associated with a helicopter pair display and the name change was to improve perception of a single helicopter display. [14]

With a national lockdown announced on 23 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, under the Black Cats name a statement was released around pausing display training.

Eventually leading to no displays during the 2020 flying display season. [15]

For the 2021 display season the Wildcat Demo Team display was authorised on 11 June, by Rear Admiral Martin Connell, during his visit to both 815 and 825 Naval Air Squadrons at RNAS Yeovilton, two years since the last display at a UK airshow. [16]

On 24 May 2022 the display team received official approval for the year’s display season. [17] It again was a solo AugustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 from 825 Naval Air Squadron, flown by Lt Jim Carver. Nine airshows were on the schedule for 2022, including one overseas in Belgium. [18]

825 Naval Air Squadron announced that the 2023 RN Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, display had been formally signed-off by Rear Admiral Moorhouse on 15 June to enable the Black Cats to participate in National Armed Forces Day in Falmouth on 24 June. [19]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Black Cats helicopter Display Team". military-airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "RIAT 2003 Trophy Winners - Military Airshows". military-airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Black Cats display team's first female pilot at show". BBC News Online. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Chris takes the controls for anniversary of famous Lynx". Western Daily Press. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Black Cats helicopter team to get Bournemouth Air Festival crowds in a spin". Bournemouth Echo. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Royal Navy Lynx helicopters train on warship". Royal Navy. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Black Cats pilot looking forward to display at Yeovilton Air Day". Western Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Black Cats: just as exciting as any plane". Bournemouth Echo. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  9. ↑ RNAS Yeovilton [@RNASYeovilton] (11 June 2015). "Biggin Hill hope you are ready for us, PDA granted :-)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ "REVIEW: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight". air-shows.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Black Cats display team set to wow the crowds". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Black Cats - This is flight". 19 May 2024.
  13. ↑ RNAS Yeovilton [@RNASYeovilton] (24 May 2019). "#FridayFeeling Lt Chris Rebbeck has it , Pilot of @RoyalNavy #Blackcats display team having been authorised (PDA) today @RNASYeovilton to enter the display season by Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm @MartinJConnell @YeoviltonAirDay #BankHolidayWeekend #825nas #FlyNavy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ "Airshow News: Introducing the Royal Navy Wildcat Demo Team". air-shows.org.uk. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Royal Navy Wildcat Display Team Schedule 2020". military-airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  16. ↑ RNAS Yeovilton [@RNASYeovilton] (11 June 2021). "RAdm @MartinJConnell visited RNAS Yeovilton today to speak to personnel from @815NAS and @825NAS before viewing a display by the RN Wildcat Display Team (RNWDT) and authorising the display for public demonstration. #FlyNavy 🚁⚓️#FAA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ 825 Naval Air Squadron [@825NAS] (24 May 2022). "#tuesdaymotivations #FlyNavy A huge congratulations to Lt Jim Carver and the display team @RNBlackCats for the official sign-off for the season. 🚁👍📸 Looking forward to an action packed year 👊@RoyalNavy @RNASYeovilton" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "Airshow news: Royal Navy Black Cats Display Dates 2022". air-show.org.uk. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  19. ↑ 825 Naval Air Squadron [@825NAS] (15 June 2023). "We are proud to announce that the RN Helicopter Display Team "The Black Cats" have been formally signed off as safe to display by RAdm Moorhouse. This is to allow the team to display at National Armed Forces Day in Falmouth on 24th June. We can't wait to see you there #FlyNavy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

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