Wildcat Aerobatics

Wildcat Aerobatics became one of the UK circuit’s most popular two-ship acts after its founding in 2010 by pilots Al Coutts and Willie Cruickshank. Operating from Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk, the team’s routine blended graceful, balletic formation figures with pin-sharp opposition passes and mirrored manoeuvres.

Flying the iconic Pitts Special biplane, their display featured tight close-formation aerobatics and dramatic head-on sequences with closing speeds in excess of 400 mph. Alongside public airshows across the UK, Channel Islands and Northern Europe, Wildcat also offered introductory formation experiences to give enthusiasts a first-hand taste of precision aerobatics.

Type & role. The Pitts S-2B is a two-seat, steel-tube & fabric aerobatic biplane—a development of Curtis Pitts’ 1940s design—that remains a benchmark for crisp handling and compact agility.

Power & limits. Typical Wildcat mounts used the Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 rated at about 260 hp, with aerobatic limits commonly around +6/−3 g. The type’s short wings, responsive elevator and high power-to-weight ratio make it ideal for formation loops, barrel rolls, and opposition crossovers.

Team fit. Aircraft carried smoke systems for display visibility; dual controls allowed passenger experience flying during dedicated events and media days.

Wildcat Aerobatics formed in 2010 when Al Coutts and Willie Cruickshank teamed up in Pitts S-2Bs to create a lyrical yet highly precise two-ship routine. Through the early and mid-2010s they built a loyal following at large seaside shows, heritage fly-ins and private engagements across the UK and nearby Europe, often noted for neat geometry, constant-rate rolling figures and tight rejoins.

On 1 June 2019 the team flew what became their last two-ship display before a major unserviceability grounded one aircraft. Wildcat subsequently announced cancellation of the remainder of the 2019 season, with a single-aircraft appearance at the Aylsham Show in August. No public two-ship displays have followed.

• The team flew the classic Pitts S-2B, a two-seat evolution of Curtis Pitts’ 1940s biplane design.
• Wildcat’s opposition passes achieved closing speeds > 400 mph—two aircraft approaching head-on.
• Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk served as their operating base.
• Founders Al Coutts and Willie Cruickshank crafted a “balletic” style: smooth, flowing, formation-tight.
• After an aircraft became unserviceable in 2019, they flew a singleton at the Aylsham Show.