Black Cats History

The team have been a fixture on the Airshow circuit for several years under the title of The Lynx Pair and won the Steadman Sword for the best British participant at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2003. In 2004, increased support from the Royal Navy and Agusta Westland Helicopters saw the team reinvented as "The Black Cats" for the forthcoming season.

The team are the first official RN helicopter display team since The Sharks, who disbanded in the mid 1990’s. The team have however drawn from their predecessor’s displays and use several manoeuvres, which were trademarks of the 4 red Gazelle helicopters.

The team’s title “The Black Cats” comes from a combination of the Lynx wildcat featured on the 702 Squadron badge and the naval slang of ‘black catting’, which is a form of one-upmanship by having done something or owning something better than anyone else.

The carefully choreographed display for the 2006 season features a full display of the precision and aerobatic capabilities of the Lynx. The acclaimed aerobatic display has been described as an aerial ballet but also features high-speed crosses, close formation work and opposing manoeuvres.

The Airshow season begins with a seaside show at Southend on the late May bank holiday and will close at Guernsey in the first week of September. The preparations however began in February and after many hours of practice, the display will finally be cleared for public display by ACOS(AV) on 12 May 06.

The 2006 season saw the team cover even more events and work closely with the Directorate of Naval Recruiting to spread the word to potential recruits. Lieutenant Simon Vorley took over as Black Cat lead and Lieutenant Garry McCall was the second pilot in the team. The Pilots were joined by Royal Navy Observers Lieutenants Enever, Tazewell and Ingram; together they flew a new display sequence during the 2006 season.

The carefully choreographed, all new display for the 2007 season features fully utilises the precision and aerobatic capabilities of the Lynx. The display features high-speed crosses, close formation work and opposing manoeuvres.

The Airshow season begins with a show at Duxford on the 19th May and will see the team venturing further afield to display in Denmark before the season closes in the second week of October. The preparations, however, began in February and after many hours of practice, the display will finally be cleared for public display by ACOS(CSAV), Commodore Stanford, on 11 May 07.

For 2007 Lt Gary McCall takes over as Black Lead and Lt Cdr Lars Harpoeth, the Danish exchange, pilot joins the team as Black 2. The pilots are joined by Royal Navy Lynx Observers Lt Craig Holliehead, Lt Simon Collins, and Lt Simon Hilton.