A drone pilot in a “mind-blowing reckless” moment almost caused a Hawker Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to crash.
Mark Bagguley hovered his drone within feet of the WWII fighter plane as it flew 365 feet over the annual fair in Buxton in Derbyshire.
A court heard his action would have resulted in deaths if there had been a collision.
Bagguley, 49, flew the drone while a no-fly zone was in place.
The craft was only spotted when a photographer was looking back through his pictures.
At first, he thought the image was a bird but realized it was a drone.
He reported his find to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Bagguley, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
He was ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.
Judge Jonathan Bennett said:
“I have never encountered such an unusual offence as either a solicitor or judge.
“It was mind-blowingly reckless, particularly in the case of an intelligent, middle-aged man.
“He is no youngster messing about with a new toy.”
Miss Annabel Lenton, prosecuting, said the carnival was being watched by between 15,000 and 20,000 people.
PC Matthew Moore, a flight safety officer with Derbyshire Police, said after the hearing:
“There would have without a doubt been fatalities had the drone collided with the plane.
“Mr Bagguley’s actions on the day were completely unjust and irresponsible.
“For anybody to fly a drone over an event like this, when there is such a historic flight flying over, is what people would call idiotic or just downright silly.”
Laura Broome, for Bagguley said:
“Once the drone was in the air, upon seeing the plane, he did realise his error and did halt the drone.”
“Mr Bagguley knows his negligent actions could have had very serious consequences and that is something that has been weighing very heavily on his mind.
“It is, fortunately, a case in which no harm was caused and no damage was caused to any property and the event went ahead without incident.”
In an arlier letter to the court Mr Bagguley wrote:
“I wish to state my gratitude and relief that there was no contact with the Hurricane.
“I owe the pilot an apology for putting the pilot and others at risk on that day and can only thank God that no incident occurred.”