Wildcat Demo Team The Black Cats | |
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Active | 2001 | –present
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy |
Type | Royal Navy Helicopter Display Team |
Role | Wildcat helicopter flying display |
Size | 6 aircrew and several support crew |
Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
Garrison/HQ | RNAS Yeovilton |
Colours | Grey and Black |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack helicopter | AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 |
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 and anti-shipping 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.
The Black Cats were formed in 2001 and performed with the Westland Lynx. For their first three display seasons, the team was known as the 'Lynx Pair' – the "Black Cats" title was applied 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.
The team won the Steadman Sword for the best British participant at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2003 and as "Les Chats Noirs" performed at the French Navy's 30th Anniversary of operating the Lynx at Lanvéoc in Brittany.
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
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Black 1 | Lt Becky Frater [1] | Lt Chris Chambers [2] | Lt Dave Fleming [3] | Lt 'AJ' Thompson [4] previously Black 2 in 2009. [5] |
Black 2 | Lt Chris Chambers [1] | Lt Dave Fleming [2] | Lt Ian Brannighan [3] |
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. [6]
The 2014 season was the last year with the Lynx HMA.8.
From the 2015 season onwards the team only uses the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 and for the 2015 and 2016 display seasons it used two helicopters.
2015 | 2016 | |
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Black 1 | Lt David Lilly | Lt Cdr David Lilly |
Black 2 | Lt James Woods | Lt Chris Rebbeck |
The team did not display in 2017 or 2018.
From 2019, the Black Cats rebranded as the Royal Navy Wildcat Demo Team and operated with only one Wildcat. They confirmed that shows in 2020 would also feature a solo display. [7]