Air Force Class A flight mishaps for all aircraft occurred at a rate of 0.90 in Fiscal 2006, compared to 1.50 for Fiscal 2005, according to end of year statistics provided by the Air Force. That rate, which represents the number of Class A mishaps per 100,000 flying hours, is the best USAF has seen over the past 10 years. (See Data Point: Flying Safer.) And for 2006, the Air Force’s mishap rate was lower than all the other services. The Navy posted a year-end rate of 1.51, while the Army had 1.72 and the Marine Corps 1.86.
Pakistan's kill chain of Chinese-origin weapons was likely a bigger factor in shooting down an Indian fighter than the jets' relative strengths, an expert said.