Factual error: In the scene where the Warriors are hiding from the Turnbull A.C.'s under the elevated subway they look up at the train that is approaching the station. The train is marked as a "J" train. At that point they are still in the Bronx. The "J" train never runs in the Bronx.
Factual error: Although it's already been mentioned that the scene of the shuttle being stolen from the back of the 747 is impossible because the shuttle wouldn't be fueled while being transported, it should also be noted that even if the shuttle was fueled, it would still be just as impossible. During the getaway, the thieves ignited the shuttle's three main engines to get free of the 747 and escape. The thing is, the shuttle's main engines are fueled entirely by the large external tank the shuttle and the solid fuel boosters are attached to during liftoff, and once the tank is jettisoned, these engines cannot be used. The only engines the shuttle's internal fuel feeds are the reaction control thrusters and the Orbital Maneuvering System (which are the two smaller engines located in the bulges just above the main engines). Both the RCS thrusters and OMS engines are almost totally useless within the atmosphere, so even if the thieves managed to get the shuttle free of the 747, they could only get it as far as it would glide unpowered. In fact, they could probably get it further if it wasn't fueled. It should be noted that this is not a fictional, futuristic spacecraft. It's a bog standard shuttle, stolen from NASA, on the back of the modified 747 used by them to transport the orbiter from its landing site to Cape Canaveral.
Factual error: Throughout the film the British infantry are armed with carbines. These were intended for issue to cavalry and are much shorter than the infantry issue Martini-Henry rifle.
Factual error: In the PALOMINO scenes, Anthony Perkins wears a long lab coat. In most of the scenes, it hangs straight down; but in the low gravity aboard the ship it should be flattering about (that's why such loose garments are not worn by real-life cosmonauts; they would be a hindrance).
Factual error: The lid Halloran removes before the jump out of the plane is much too small. They wouldn't have made it through the opening with their parachutes strapped on. (01:05:45)
Factual error: Captain Willard recalls back to lunch at General Corman's and we hear Harrison Ford's voice say as he points to a map, "Now he's crossed into Cambodia". The town he's pointing at (Ban Me Thout) and the one above it are in the Central Highlands in the middle of Vietnam and not crossover points anywhere near Cambodia. (01:18:20)
Factual error: The toy horse on Alec's shelf is a 64 Black Foundation Stallion, available from Breyer between 1977-1987. But the film is set over thirty years earlier.
Factual error: In between the scenes when they are leaving Earth and passing through the Jupiter system, you can see stars flying by on the viewer. How could they be flying by stars if they haven't even left the Solar System?
Factual error: Buck Rogers is supposed to be a Captain in the Air Force, but he is wearing Navy wings. In fact he is not even wearing Naval Aviator (pilot) wings, he is wearing Naval Flight Officer (navigator) wings.
Factual error: In 1947, when George is 14 years old his father takes him to the clinic for a physical examination. This is about 18 minutes into the movie. The nurse measures his blood pressure using a cuff that is held on with a "Velcro" hook-and-loop fastener. Velcro wasn't marketed until the early 1960's. [A new DVD was released in 2014. The sound track in this scene was edited and we can no longer hear the sound of the Velcro being unwrapped.]
Factual error: The TV remotes of the day wouldn't control more than one TV at a time, yet they all come on and go off at the same rime.