In 1958, the Central Flying School based at RAF Little Rissington formed a four-ship aerobatics display team of Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.1s, known simply as The Sparrows.

In 1960, the aircraft were replaced with the Jet Provost T.3 and the team renamed The Pelicans after the mascot of the Central Flying School.

[1] The team's aircraft had no special markings applied, but wore the standard silver and orange day-glow training colours of the day.

Halfway through the 1962 season, the team re-equipped with four Jet Provost T.4s and a smoke system was also fitted to each of the display aircraft and thus the Red Pelicans team was born, and they performed at shows up and down the country, including the annual SBAC show Farnborough in September 1962.

56 Squadron RAF "Firebirds" English Electric Lightning team in the role.