Simon's Sircus
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."[1] Simon's Sircus was formed in April 1968 by Lt Cdr Idiens following 892 Squadron's disembarkation from the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes.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.Following the conclusion of the Farnborough displays Simon's Sircus and 892 Squadron were officially disbanded.