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By: 19th October 2004 at 15:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Was there someting recently on PPrune?
By: 19th October 2004 at 15:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-There was a little bit about Simon's Sircus on this very forum earlier this year.
Try here.
http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=27274&page=2&pp=30&highlight=Simons+Sircus
There's a picture if you scroll down the thread.
Cheers
Andy
By: 20th October 2004 at 11:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Phantom XT876 on 10.1.72
Both crew ejected at 15,000 ft after loss of control at altitude and entered spin at 30,000 ft 27 miles NW of St. Mawgan
Parachute malfunction resulted in death of Ldr Cmd Idiens, Lt R C O'Connor survived
Plane crashed in sea off Trevose Head, Cornwall
By: 20th October 2004 at 15:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Hi All,This is a bit of a long shot but I thought I 'd give it a try.
Back in the late 60's a Lt Cdr Simon Idiens led a Sea Vixen aerobatic team for a season (I think) called Simons Sircus (sic). My father recalls seeing them at Culdrose saying they were mighty impressive.
Anyway Simon Idiens later went on to fly the mighty Phantom in the Fleet Air Arm but was lost off the coast of Cornwall in Jan 1972 (again I think). My father says that he and his Phantom were never found.
This story has always intrigued me - don't know why, but it just has. I was just wondering if anyone has any memories of Simons Sircus, any photos or can confirm the story above that Simon/his aircraft were never found.
There is a good colour picture of the Sea Vixen's of Simons Sircus putting on a display on airliners BTW.
Many thanks
Nick
Sad to hear that. You will find good colour and b/w photos of "Simon's Sircus" in the books "Aerobatic Teams of the World" and "De Havilland Twin Booms" by Adrian Balch, published by Airlife Publishing. Both can be obtained through Amazon.
I saw "Simon's Sircus" perform at Yeovilton and at Farnborough in September 1968. They also appeared at Brawdy the previous month.
By: 20th October 2004 at 16:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Adrian Balch
Wonder if he posts here, eh Albert?
By: 20th October 2004 at 17:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Wonder if he posts here, eh Albert?
I'm sure he does, all the best people post here and I know Adrian well :rolleyes:
By: 20th October 2004 at 17:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-:D :D
By: 20th October 2004 at 23:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-A wonderful air-to-air of Simons Circus features in the Nov 04 issue of Aeroplane Monthly.
It is unusual in that it shows the 6-ship in a near vertical climb, but shows the plan view (from above) of the formation. I'm not sure if the plume is from the exhaust, or dye, or a combination.
Exciting stuff.
By: 21st October 2004 at 11:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Terrific - thank you all for your help.
Kind regards
Nick
By: 29th October 2004 at 19:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-SIMONS SIRCUS
HI THERE NICK B ?? as it happens my father was a cpo in the fleet air arm at the time of simons sircus not only that he was part of the ground crew. Every year the navy would form an airobatic team using one of its fixed wing squadrons in 1968 it was 892 sqdrns turn then flying seasvixen FAW2S i will try to send you a few pics but if i cant then i would need your e.mail addres
By: 29th October 2004 at 19:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-SIMONS SIRCUS
HI THERE NICK B ?? as it happens my father was a cpo in the fleet air arm at the time of simons sircus not only that he was part of the ground crew. Every year the navy would form an airobatic team using one of its fixed wing squadrons in 1968 it was 892 sqdrns turn then flying seasvixen FAW2s i will try to send you a few pics but if i cant then i would need your e.mail addres s as i have a picture of their logo +a couple of shots of them in the air & if iam lucky i will be able to aquire a piccy of their sqdrn mascot(a lion CALLED SIMON) signing their book hope this helps you peter SEAVIXEN 176 P.S ONE ON ITS WAY TO YOU BUT I WILL NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND ANY MORE cheers peter
By: 29th October 2004 at 20:50 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-HI THERE NICK B ?? as it happens my father was a cpo in the fleet air arm at the time of simons sircus not only that he was part of the ground crew. Every year the navy would form an airobatic team using one of its fixed wing squadrons in 1969 it was 892 sqdrns turn then flying seasvixen FAW2S i will try to send you a few pics but if i cant then i would need your e.mail addres
It was 1968 actually. Here are some of my photos and some from my archives.
By: 29th October 2004 at 22:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-SEAVIXEN FAW2ssimons sircus
hi albert any chance of a bigger picture of the first group vixens with their wings folded so i can print it off :D :D cheers peter SEAVIXEN 176....
By: 29th October 2004 at 23:14 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-hi albert any chance of a bigger picture of the first group vixens with their wings folded so i can print it off :D :D cheers peter SEAVIXEN 176....
Regret forum will not stand a higher resolution/larger photo, but will send you a PM.
By: 17th September 2005 at 21:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Simons Sircus
Dear Peter
I was a ground crew member of Simon Sircus A.M²(O) I was wondering if I knew your father?? My nickname was Tex. Would be great to hear from you and also would you like a picture of the blazer badge that we wore?? Let me know as I have one. (Just need to scan it!).
Regards
John (Tex) Messenger
By: 19th September 2005 at 15:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I am searching for any photographs of Simon Idiens. Please can you let me know if you have any photos in your collections of him or if you were a friend and have photos of you both together. Thankyou, any help much appreciated.
Regards
Caroline
By: 29th September 2005 at 09:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Badges
Here are my two badges, one for Simon Sircus and one for my Squadron. As I said before I was ground crew for Simon Sircus and it would be great to hear from other Sircus members.
Regards
John 'Tex' Messenger
By: 29th September 2005 at 13:32 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I am searching for any photographs of Simon Idiens. Please can you let me know if you have any photos in your collections of him or if you were a friend and have photos of you both together. Thankyou, any help much appreciated.
Regards
Caroline
There was a photo of Simon Idiens and the rest of the team walking the lion in the 1968 RNAS Yeovilton Air Day programme Regret, don't have it anymore but if anyone has, perhaps they could scan it?
By: 29th September 2005 at 14:01 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-About 3 years ago I remember reading an article about I think 'Pathe' releasing their film archive onto the internet. I had a play around on the web site and did a few searches and did indeed find footage of Simon's Sircus with a Lion Cub filmed at Yeovilton. IIRC it also included some footage of a Sea Venom (probably from the FRU) making a wheels up landing at Yeovilton that conicidentally happened whilst the film crew were filming the 'Sircus'.
I'm pretty sure it was the Pathe web site but forgive me if I'm wrong. When I get a quieter moment I'll report back after doing a bit of digging...
By: 29th September 2005 at 14:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-About 3 years ago I remember reading an article about I think 'Pathe' releasing their film archive onto the internet. I had a play around on the web site and did a few searches and did indeed find footage of Simon's Sircus with a Lion Cub filmed at Yeovilton. IIRC it also included some footage of a Sea Venom (probably from the FRU) making a wheels up landing at Yeovilton that conicidentally happened whilst the film crew were filming the 'Sircus'.I'm pretty sure it was the Pathe web site but forgive me if I'm wrong. When I get a quieter moment I'll report back after doing a bit of digging...
Hi Nick,
Yes your right, no doubt JDK will come on with his 'British Pathe' hat on, promoting the site as its one of his (and mine) favourites. This site has some great stuff on it, but if you want a copy of any footage it costs an arm-and-a-leg even in VHS format!
Posts: 630
By: NickB - 19th October 2004 at 15:27
Hi All,
This is a bit of a long shot but I thought I 'd give it a try.
Back in the late 60's a Lt Cdr Simon Idiens led a Sea Vixen aerobatic team for a season (I think) called Simons Sircus (sic). My father recalls seeing them at Culdrose saying they were mighty impressive.
Anyway Simon Idiens later went on to fly the mighty Phantom in the Fleet Air Arm but was lost off the coast of Cornwall in Jan 1972 (again I think). My father says that he and his Phantom were never found.
This story has always intrigued me - don't know why, but it just has. I was just wondering if anyone has any memories of Simons Sircus, any photos or can confirm the story above that Simon/his aircraft were never found.
There is a good colour picture of the Sea Vixen's of Simons Sircus putting on a display on airliners BTW.
Many thanks
Nick