Micro-plane tourist finds guide in the skies is an angry fighter jet

An intrepid German tourist in a tiny microlight plane found himself being intercepted by a very big, very scary Mirage fighter jet when he flew over French nuclear plants, without permission.

'The German, who had taken off from Avignon on August 1st for a day’s flying, was forced by authorities to land in the town of Valence, France’s air transport police (CGTA) said.

After flying over the Marcoule nuclear site in the Gard department of southern France and the Tricastin in the Drôme, the Mirage fighter jet was dispatched and escorted the German tourist to the airfield at Valence.'

The German insisted it was just a simple mistake, and seems rather offended. Perhaps he ought to count himself lucky; a German doctor who did the same thing earlier in the year was handed a 6-month jail term by French courts.

http://www.thelocal.de/20140804/french-scramble-jet-after-germans-wayward-flight

This was all so unnecessary, anyone who wants to take to the skies, or to fly anything even just a micro-plane can get a copy of military jet routes, banned airspace etc.
This information is available free of charge, for the purpose of avoiding this sort of thing happening, or worse, to avoid a collision.
The speed military aircraft travel at, they could easily hit something without even seeing it.
I would love to have seen the microlight pilot's face as the Mirage escorted him in. "Panic" would be an understatement. .....:fear: :floorlaugh:

LOL at the difference in planes.