Display Teams - Black Cats

International Display Teams
• Red Arrows
• Frecce Tricolori
• Patrouille de France
• Patrouille Suisse
• Thunderbirds
• Blue Angels
• Patrulla Aguila
• Royal Jordanian Falcons
• Turkish Stars
• Midnight Hawks
• PC-7 Team
• Team Orlik
• Team Iskry
• Esquadrilha da Fumaca
• Halcones
• Snowbirds
• Black Eagles
• Al Fursan
• Saudi Hawks

Display Teams
• Royal Air Force
• BBMF
• Black Cats
• RNHF
• AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers
• Yakovlevs
• Aerostars
• Breitling Jet Team
• The Blades
• Great War Display Team
• Turbulent Team
• Team Raven
• Twister Aerobatics Team
• Fireflies Aerobatics Display Team
• Trig Aerobatic Team
• Wildcat Aerobatics Team


Links:
• Official Black Cats Website
• Official Black Cats Facebook

Scanner Frequencies:
• 280.475

RN Wildcat Demo Schedule 2025:
• RN Wildcat Demo Schedule 2025

The Black Cats are the Royal Navy's helicopter display team and perform using two Royal Navy Lynx helicopters.

The carefully choreographed display 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.

History
The Team started in 2001 as the 'Lynx Pair' and have been the first official Royal Navy flying display team since the 'Sharks' disbanded in the mid-1990s.

In 2004, increased support from the Royal Navy and Agusta Westland Helicopters saw the team reinvented as 'The Black Cats'. The team have however drawn from their predecessor's displays and use several manoeuvres, which were trademarks of the 'Sharks' 4 red Gazelle helicopters.

The 'Black Cats' won the Steadman Sword for the best British participant at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2003.

The 2013 Black Cats Team consisted of just a solo Lynx Display.

Due to the transition within the Royal Navy from the Lynx HMA.8 to the Wildcat HMA.2, the 2014 season included both types of helicopter, and the 2015 season saw two Wildcat HMA.2 helicopters display.

The name 'Black Cats' is derived from the fierce cat depicted on the now disbanded 702 Naval Air Squadron emblem and the term 'blackcatting' which is naval slang for one-upmanship - doing or owning something better than someone else.

The aircrew and engineers are all volunteers from 825 Naval Air Squadron and the Lynx Wildcat Maritime Force based at the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset.