| Simon's Sircus | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Royal Navy Sea Vixen aircraft | |
| Active | 1968 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Royal Navy aerobatics display team |
| Role | Sea Vixen flying display |
| Size | six aircraft |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Yeovilton |
| Mascot(s) | Lion cub called Simon |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Commander Simon Idiens, RN |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | de Havilland Sea Vixen |
Simon's Sircus was an aerobatics display team which consisted of six de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 jet aircraft, which were part of the Fleet Air Arm's (FAA) 892 Naval Air Squadron, of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). This display team was active during the summer of 1968 and the name of the team was derived from a clever wordplay involving their commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Simon Idiens, RN, and their mascot, a young lion cub from Longleat House, named "Simon."
History
Simon's Sircus was formed in April 1968 by Lt Cdr Idiens following 892 Squadron's disembarkation from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes. They were based at RNAS Yeovilton and displayed at numerous RAF Airshows and Royal Navy Air Station Air Days during the 1968 season culminating in the SBAC Farnborough Airshow on 20, 21 and 22 September. The main element of the team's display began with a steep turn and then a loop in ‘broad arrow’ formation, changing to ‘box six’ during the second manoeuvre. This was followed by a barrel roll in ‘long arrow’ formation, a loop in ‘spearhead’ formation and lastly a ‘bomb burst’ and finale. The team were highly acclaimed by many who saw them display, due in no small part to the fact that the Sea Vixens used were over five times heavier than the Folland Gnats used by the well known Red Arrows aerobatic team of the RAF.
Following the conclusion of the Farnborough displays Simon's Sircus and 892 Squadron were officially disbanded.
References
- "Simons Sircus". seavixen.org. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- The de Havilland Sea Vixen by Tony Buttler AMRAeS, (Air Britain) ISBN 0-85130-364-1
- Calvert, Denis J. (October 2018). "Sircus Performers". Aeroplane. Vol. 46, no. 10. pp. 24–31. ISSN 0143-7240.
External links
- Simon's Sircus page at Sea Vixen.org
- Brief history and photographs of Simon's Sircus
- Pathé News clip of new lion mascot for fleet air arm acrobatic team 'Simon's Sircus'
- Farnborough 1968 Simon's Sircus
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