Ventus 2c entered active restricted area during airshow; F-5E airprox

A German Ventus 2c pilot on a cross-country flight entered the active temporary restricted area around Fricktal-Schupfart at 12:14 UTC; the area had been set up for the Patrouille Suisse airshow display. He had not consulted the NOTAM or DABS and did not radio his position. At 12:33 UTC over Zeiningen the glider came within ~40 m vertical / ~100 m horizontal of a PS F-5E in a pulled-up right turn into formation. With only Flarm aboard — no transponder — military ATC could not warn the formation leader, who sighted the glider only at the apex of his turn. At ~7× the glider's speed, no evasion was feasible. No injuries, no damage.

1. Ventus 2c XC into Switzerland: The glider launched at 10:12 UTC and entered Swiss airspace near Bad Säckingen an hour later, passing LSZI after landing was refused before thermalling in the Schwarzwald/Jura.
2. Restricted area active for airshow: A temporary restricted area was active from 12:00 to 13:15 UTC within a 13 km radius of LSZI, from the surface to 2,000 m, established for an airshow with a Patrouille Suisse display.
3. Glider pilot unaware of restriction: The pilot had not checked the published restriction beforehand; aware from an earlier radio call that an event was underway, he flew west of the airfield without realising it was active.
4. No transponder, no position call: The glider carried only Flarm, no transponder; the pilot did not call the airfield frequency on returning to the area, so military control could not detect or warn the formation in time.
5. Entered active restricted area: At 12:14:15 UTC the glider entered the active W1230/18 at 1582 m AMSL, thermalling about 7 km west-southwest of LSZI.
6. Closest approach ~40 m vertical: The formation leader saw the glider above-left only at the top of his turn, too late to manoeuvre; closest approach was about 40 m vertical and 100 m horizontal, too fast for evasion.
7. No collision, no damage: Both aircraft continued safely; the glider later diverted after losing lift, and the formation completed its display. The event was classified ICAO Category A, a serious collision risk.