So, after an uneventful 2-way head-up, we broke off at 4,500 and I started tracking about 90 degrees to flight line. Whilst checking for others I spotted the chipmunk. I was surprised and then alarmed as it started turning towards me. At that point I was certain that we would collide if I continued tracking so I immediately deployed my main.
Whilst it was snivelling, I waited for the inevitable as the chipmunk came ever closer. Thankfully, it was a relatively quick opening and it passed about 15 feet in front of me and a few feet below. I even pulled my legs up, it felt that close...
I don't know how much luckier I could have been - a second later in deciding to deploy, or a slower opening and there could easily have been two fatalities. The previous group saw the plane under canopy - fortunately from a more generous distance - where it had already banked to avoid them, turning up jump-run.
The idiot who endangered our lives just carried straight on; made no effort to land at the DZ or report it. There was no visible ident (probably under the wings), but efforts are underway to identify and ultimately prosecute him - thanks to those chasing it up.
I don't know the CAA regulations for flying over DZ's, but they are not 'restricted' areas. I hope it doesn't take many more incidents like this for such pilots to realise the danger to others and themselves. I wouldn't mind 'educating' this particular one myself...
I guess the lesson to learn or reinforce is to check the airspace around you whilst tracking - whether it is for other groups, canopies or even aircraft.
Anyway, the footage can be downloaded here. It was taken through a 0.3 wide angle lens, so it looks a little farther away than it felt Wink
Cheers!