By early 1968, with the Phantom FG.1’s entry into Fleet Air Arm service imminent, Sea Vixen FAW2 operations were already winding down. In February that year, examples from 892 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) had disembarked from HMS Hermes for the final time ahead of its looming disbandment date.
Despite this, shore-based flying with the Sea Vixen continued for several months whilst the senior service awaited the anticipated delivery of its new FG.1s from the United States. With the unit set to be re-formed upon arrival of the McDonnell Douglas jets, occasional training sorties were conducted to maintain pilot readiness. Although 892NAS remained very much operational, it was gradually scaled back to just seven airframes to reflect the dwindling activity.
Shortly after returning to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, its Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Simon Idiens, received orders to establish a six-ship Sea Vixen display team. While the heavy, twin-boom type seemed an unlikely mount for aerobatic , the FAW1 variant was proven capable by Fred’s Five - a demonstration that had existed just six years previously.
Initial suggestions for a team name included “Idien’s Idiots”, but this was quickly rejected by the squadron’s boss w…
