 | Fleet Air Arm |
| Fleet Air Arm |
The Royal Navy Sharks Formation Display Team flew the Aerospatiale Gazelle helicopter in the summer air show seasons in UK and Europe from 1975 until 1996 when the RN paid off the Gazelle.
The Gazelle was flown by 705 Squadron, RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, in the basic helicopter training role from 1974 to 1996.
Because of the Gazelle's manoeuvrability, it proved to be a very versatile machine and a joy to fly which made it ideal for the public relations and recruiting programs for which it was used for 21 years by the Royal Navy.
The Gazelle was introduced into service in late 1974 and the first display team flew in six air shows in 1975, mainly at naval establishments. The team started off with a six aircraft routine. John (Bomber) Brown and Trevor Rieck, who were on exchange with 705 at the time, flew in the inaugural team. Bomber flew the solo slot and Trevor as number 5. It has been officially recorded that Bomber coined the team's name (the Sharks) as he thought the tail of the Gazelle looked like a shark's tail.
Those instructors in the squadron who were selected to fly in the team knew they were volunteering to give up their spare time by having to fly out of hours for all the Shark's flying - in the mornings for practice before the instructional day started, and on weekends for the displays throughout UK and Europe. That system remained in practice for the life of the Sharks.
Many of the Australians who subsequently served on exchange with 705 were involved with the Sharks team. Bomber and Trevor were the first, followed by Mick Perrott in 1976. In 1977 the program was cancelled due to a fatal mid-air collision during the six aircraft practice in which three were killed. From then on, the team flew a four aircraft routine.
In 1978 Jack Kinross was the team's manager and air show commentator - an interesting duty considering his Aussie accent. By that stage the team was gaining a reputation and more and more bookings were being accepted, hence the need for a manager (who also flew the spare aircraft). Vince de Pietro filled in and managed and commentated the 1982 team when some team members were rushed off to the Falklands War.
As the years progressed, the selection process became more formalised and gaining a slot on the team became very competitive. Usually the outgoing team would fly with the "recruits" for the next year's team and the selections were made before the end of that year. The team was therefore ready to get under way when the season began the next year.
By this stage, commercial organisations were seeing value in sponsorships but the RN was not at all comfortable with this. In any case, the team was able to obtain a van and caravan which became the "shop" at the main air shows where a collection of Sharks memorabilia was sold for charitable causes.
In addition to the formal four aircraft Sharks teams, the squadron fielded "pairs" for displays when the formal team was not available. These pairs flew in the last three years of the Shark's existence and were sponsored by a famous rum (Pusser's Rum).
Jeff Konemann flew in the 1991 Sharks team and by that stage more than 30 displays were being flown in the air show season, which meant that serious family consideration had to be given in volunteering for the team.
In 1992 the Grim Reaper struck and the Sharks flew its last year. For the next four years, the squadron fielded two "pairs" teams that often came together unofficially in a four aircraft display during the season. These pairs were officially billed as the RN Helicopter Display Team.
Tim Leonard flew in a pair team in 1993; he enjoyed the season immensely but was glad when it was over as it was many, many weekends away from the family (and early morning starts). Jeremy (Harry) Butler was the last Aussie representative in the RN Helicopter Display Team and he flew in the various combination display teams in 1995.
The RN paid off the Gazelle in 1996 and decommissioned 705 Squadron and moved its helicopter training to a tri-service school at RAF Shawbury in the Midlands where it remains today.
Over the years, more than 100 pilots flew in the Sharks and the subsequent display teams. It was on a visit to the new 705 squadron at RAF Shawbury in 2008, during research for the history of the RAN/RN helicopter instructor exchange program, that it became obvious that there was some enthusiasm for a reunion. The new 705 had a Sharks hall of fame.
A reunion was held at the wardroom, RNAS Yeovilton, on 7 August 2010 when more than 100 ex-Sharks, their partners and ex-COs and training officers attended a mess dinner to mark the 35th year since the team was formed. The guest of honour was the previous Commodore FAA, RADM Simon Charlier, who had been trained in 705 on the Gazelle.
A local farmer, an aviation enthusiastic, flew in his ex RN Gazelle, still in its 705 livery, and landed it at the wardroom which provided a wonderful back-drop for the evening.
Three Australian couples attended the weekend - Jeff and Wendy Konemann from Sydney [standing left in group picture], Trevor and Judy Rieck [standing centre] who moved to London four years ago, and Bomber and Meryl Brown from Perth [at right]. Trevor, with the little help from three RNers, organised the reunion.
A website is still live at www.sharksreuniondinner.co.uk where there is a gallery of photographs from the reunion. A magazine was also produced for the dinner outlining the history of the Sharks.
- Trevor Rieck, London, 4 November 2010
For more naval aviation history, see Fleet Air Arm History page.