Character mistake: When Murphy shoots down an F-16, the guy says "we just lost a M-16."
Other mistake: His rank on the cap and the collars are different. Three rockers on the collars, two rockers on the cap.
Continuity mistake: In the scene on the bridge when Frank's girlfriend gets pulled over, the cop on the driver side has his gun drawn. It changes between angles. From the outside it's a standard issue 38. From the inside looking out it's a .357 magnum.
Continuity mistake: When Lymangood is running away from the car he crashes in to a bike and his hands and arms are free, not tied at all.
Continuity mistake: Before Frank destroys the Thunder it's daytime - a few moments later it's completely dark.
Continuity mistake: When the Thunder is shown for very first time the sun is barely rising, but at the time it gets to the training field the sun is high like it's noon.
Chosen answer: Murphy has been deemed a threat to the public at large by the authorities, having "snapped" and stolen an armed helicopter. Cochrane is using that determination as cover to finally kill Murphy, whom he's long despised. Killing Murphy on the ground would be harder to get away with. He would not be responsible for paying for the helicopter anymore than the Air Force or the other police helicopter crews would be had they sucessfully knocked Blue Thunder down.
johnrosa