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Wildcat Demo Team

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Wildcat Demo Team
The Black Cats
Wildcat Demo Team logo
Active2001 (2001)–present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeRoyal Navy Helicopter Display Team
RoleWildcat helicopter flying display
Size6 aircrew and several support crew
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Naval Air StationRNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron)
ColoursGrey and Black
WebsiteBlack Cats Helicopter Display Team
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterWestland Lynx HAS.2, HAS.3 & HMA.8 (2001 - 2014)
AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 (2014 - present)
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.

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

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Westland Lynx (2001 - 2014)

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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 aircrew and engineers were all volunteers from 702 Naval Air Squadron and the Lynx Helicopter Force which were both based at the RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), in Somerset.

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. This success brought about both the Royal Navy and AgustaWestland to increase their support to the team and the Black Cats came into being.[3]

Lieutenant Dave Lilly, RN, was chosen for the 2008 display season as ‘Black 2’, with the team leader, ‘Black 1’, Lieutenant Commander Alun ‘Lucky Al’ Read, RN, who went on to receive an MBE.[3][4] The following year was the Royal Navy’s Fly Navy 100 (FN100) celebration for 100 years of innovation in naval aviation from 1909 when an airship was ordered by the Admiralty.[5] Lieutenant Dave Lilly, RN, had a second season with the team, but this time as ‘Black 1’, with Lieutenant AJ Thompson, RN, as ‘Black 2’, for 2009.[3]

The 2010 Black Cats display team were led by Lieutenant Becky Frater, RN, piloting ‘Black 1’,[6] with Lieutenant Chris Chambers, RN, in charge of ‘Black 2’.[7] Lieutenant Frater was the only female helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy[8] and the first female pilot to fly in and lead the Royal Navy Black Cats.[9] Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers), provided sign-off for the 2010 Black Cats team to display.[10]

The 2011 display programme was announced in March, with fifteen airshows in the schedule between May and October and the team prepared by practising both the Pairs and Solo display routines. Once again it was Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham, RN, who authorised the display on 12 May,[11] with the previous year’s ‘Black 2’, Lieutenant Chris Chambers, RN, now team leader and flying ‘Black 1’ along with Lieutenant Dave Fleming, RN, in ‘Black 2’.[12][7]

Again it was the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Aviation & Carriers), Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham, RN, who authorised the display, this time for the 2012 display season, which initially had thirteen venues scheduled between May and October 2012.[13] The 2011 'Black 2' was now Team Leader and 'Black 1', Lieutenant Dave Fleming, RN, and the new 'Black 2' was Lieutenant Ian Brannighan, RN.[14]

The Black Cats team put out a message that the 2013 display season would consist of a solo Westland Lynx HMA.8 display. The decision was based around the age of the Westland Lynx helicopter airframes and the impending retirement of the type, versus the Royal Navy’s current front line operational needs, along with the introduction of the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 and the training requirements on that type for the, at that time, existing Fleet Air Arm pilots, air observers and air engineering ranks.[15] The 2013 display season pilot was Lieutenant AJ Thompson, RN, who had previously been 'Black 2' during the 2009 display season.[16]

Lynx

Westland Lynx & AgustaWestland Wildcat (2014)

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Due to the transition within the Royal Navy from the Westland Lynx HMA.8 to the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2, one of the Lynx helicopters was replaced within the team with a Wildcat helicopter for the 2014 display season.[17]

  • Black 1 (AgustaWestland Wildcat): Lieutenant Commander Gary McCall, RN.
  • Black 2 (Westland Lynx): Lieutenant Ian Houlston, RN, with Lieutenant Frank Suter, RN, as observer.

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

AgustaWestland Wildcat (2015 - present)

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From the 2015 season onwards the team now only operates with 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)[18] The inaugural public display of the Black Cats using a pair of AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2, from 825 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), was at the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight on 13 June 2015.[19]

2015
Black 1 Lt David Lilly
Black 2 Lt 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, KCB, OBE, FRAeS, RN. 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 (HMS Heron).[20]

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.[21]

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 John Connell, CBE, RN.[22]

Wildcat Demo Team

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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 (HMS Heron). 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.[23]

Main article: British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic

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 Royal Navy helicopter displays during the 2020 flying display season.[24]

For the 2021 display season the Wildcat Demo Team display was authorised on 11 June, by Rear Admiral Martin John Connell, CBE, RN, during his visit to both 815 and 825 Naval Air Squadrons at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), two years since the last RN helicopter display at a UK airshow.[25] Piloting the Wildcat helicopter was Lieutenant Ryan Wotton, RN.[26] Following granting of the Public Display Authority (PDA), the Wildcat Demo Team were scheduled to display at the 2021 British Grand Prix, Silverstone, the 825 Naval Air Squadron Wings Parade at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), the Sidmouth Airshow, the Bournemouth Air Festival and the International Sanicole Airshow in Belgium.[27]

On 24 May 2022 the display team received official approval for the year’s display season.[28] It again was a solo AugustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 from 825 Naval Air Squadron, flown by Lieutenant Jim Carver. Nine airshows were on the schedule for 2022, including one overseas in Belgium.[29] With the passing of Elizabeth II just two days before the 43rd International Sanicole Airshow the Royal Navy's Wildcat display was withdrawn from the Belgium event.[30]

Black Cats return

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825 Naval Air Squadron announced that the 2023 RN Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, display had been formally signed-off by Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse, CBE, RN, on 15 June to enable the Black Cats to participate in National Armed Forces Day celebration at Falmouth, Cornwall on 24 June.[31] The team returned to a two helicopter display and at certain venues historic aircraft from the NavyWings Heritage Flight flew with the Black Cats. The team was set for twelve air shows in 2023. Lieutenant Commander Jim Carver, RN, was the team leader in ‘Black 1’.[32]

On 24 April 2024 both The Black Cats and 825 Naval Air Squadron announced the display pilots for the 2024 season would be Lieutenant Scott Sunderland and Lieutenant Michael "Viv" Vivian, and that they would be conducting both Solo and Pairs displays during the 2024 display season.[33]

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b c "From Black Cat to Wildcat - Lt Dave Lilly RN". globalaviationresource.com. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Royal Navy Pilot to receive MBE". royalnavy.mod.uk. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Fly Navy 100". fleetairarm.org. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Black Cats display team's first female pilot at show". BBC News Online. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Chris takes the controls for anniversary of famous Lynx". Western Daily Press. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Royal Navy's woman stunt pilot". express.co.uk. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Royal Navy wows the crowds at Bournemouth Air Festival". gov.uk. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Royal Navy's Black Cats team plan thrilling displays". news.bbc.co.uk. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Black Cats display team given green light for 2011 airshows". helihub.com. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Black Cats Helicopter Display Team". airdisplaymuseum.com. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  13. ^ "RN Helicopter Display Team Black Cats Display and Schedule". fleetairarmoa.org. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Black Cats helicopter team to get Bournemouth Air Festival crowds in a spin". Bournemouth Echo. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Black Cats 2013". fleetairarmoa.org. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "The Black Cats: just as exciting as any plane". Bournemouth Echo. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  18. ^ RNAS Yeovilton [@RNASYeovilton] (11 June 2015). "Biggin Hill hope you are ready for us, PDA granted :-)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "REVIEW: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight". air-shows.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Black Cats display team set to wow the crowds". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Black Cats - This is flight". 19 May 2024.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Airshow News: Introducing the Royal Navy Wildcat Demo Team". air-shows.org.uk. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Royal Navy Wildcat Display Team Schedule 2020". military-airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Review: Bournemouth Air Festival". air-shows.org.uk. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Royal Navy Wildcat Demo Team Schedule 2021". airshows.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  28. ^ 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)
  29. ^ "Airshow news: Royal Navy Black Cats Display Dates 2022". air-show.org.uk. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Review: 43rd International Sanicole Airshow". air-shows.org.uk. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  31. ^ 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)
  32. ^ "Airshow News: Royal Navy Black Cats 2023". air-shows.org.uk. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  33. ^ 825 Naval Air Squadron [@825NAS] (24 April 2024). "Introducing the 2024 Black Cats! 🐈‍⬛️🐈‍⬛️ As Qualified Helicopter Instructors on #825NAS they are busy working up for the display season around teaching the current students Night flying and Deck Landings. #NihilObstat #FlyNavy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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Official website

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