What an a@@. McCain was not riding in a fighter plane. And to qualify to fly a fighter plane is extremely hard and takes lots of training. This machine takes loads of concentration and exceptional intelligence. Few make it. Ever look at a panel in one?
Whoops, I meant an attack plane. Mission assignment is much different but attack planes suffer the same problem of being attack by ground missiles as fighter planes. As far as I am concerned, the attack assignment of this type of work is more dangerous than a fighter plane. Altitude difference is one factor.