Continuity mistake: When Bond takes off in the plane, we see - in one shot from Bond's view - the Cubans approaching. The background is a flat (English) countryside. In the next clip, we see a close-up of one of the Cubans. behind him are quite large hills/mountains. (00:04:55)
Revealing mistake: In the scene where Bond is trying to escape with his new Mini-Jet, he flies through a big hall. If you look carefully, you can see that the aeroplane which is supposed to be flying with its wings vertical is fastened to some kind of sustainer.
Revealing mistake: When Bond and Gobinda are fighting on top of the train, Gobinda rolls over with his sword, which bends like a rubber prop.
Visible crew/equipment: During the climax on the plane Kamal Kahn asked the henchman with the turban to get Bond. When Bond uses the antenna to push him off the plane, you see the henchman fall off from a below view, you can see that the henchman is wearing a parachute.
Continuity mistake: When Bond is fighting the twin on the top of the train, there is a carriage behind them, but when both of them fall off the train, the carriage has suddenly disappeared.
Revealing mistake: After Bond breaks through the air base gate, chased by multiple vehicles, skid marks from earlier takes are visible all over the road.
Revealing mistake: As Bond crashes through the air base gate, breaking the chain and the attached concrete block, the pre-cut section of the concrete can be seen.
Revealing mistake: When Bond arrives at the air base, multiple skid marks from earlier takes can be seen on the road.
Continuity mistake: When Bond arrives at the air base, the guard's position changes between shots, alternating from crouched near the window to standing upright.
Revealing mistake: As Bond speeds to deactivate the bomb, nearly hitting Kamal's Mercedes, skid marks from an earlier take can be seen on the road.
Continuity mistake: When Q is fishing, the bag beside him rests slanted against the rock, but in the reverse shot it's suddenly upright.
Continuity mistake: When Bond climbs out through the car roof before jumping onto the train, the sun visor is up. However, just before the empty car crashes into the train, the visor is suddenly down.
Continuity mistake: When Kamal spots Bond outside the carriage, he sneaks out and shoots at him. In the wide shot, there's a large bush visible behind Bond in the field - but in the next immediate shot, the bush has completely disappeared.
Continuity mistake: When Grischka pins Bond to the cabin door with his knives, the first knife appears slightly slanted to the left, but in the next shot its position and angle are completely different. Seconds later, another knife pins Bond's shirt at bicep level, lifting the fabric - yet a shot later, its position has shifted again (slightly upwards now) and the shirt is no longer raised.
Factual error: Bond is given a tag in Spanish, but it shows the word Col., short for Colonel. It should read Coronel.
Revealing mistake: Near the end, When Bond is hanging onto the outside of Kamal's plane (first on the roof, then on the side), we see two instances of Roger Moore's stunt double. (02:04:13 - 02:05:10)
Revealing mistake: When Bond horseback rides towards the plane, Roger Moore is replaced by an obvious stunt man wearing red goggles. (02:02:50)
Continuity mistake: When Bond escapes from the train and drives away the number and position of the bullet holes changes between shots.
Revealing mistake: When Bond throws the baddie on the bed of steel spikes, the spikes bend revealing they're made of rubber (despite a crunch and a yell of pain being heard).
Revealing mistake: On top of the plane, Gobinda's stunt is noticeable because he has less of a beard.
Answer: It wasn't meant to be related at all. It was just an action sequence to start off the film as Bond completes a previous assignment before a segue into the familiar 007 opening theme and a new song. I recall there were some other earlier Bond films that also used this formula. After the opening bit, the story starts as Bond meets with "M" for a new mission, then a briefing with "Q" about the latest spy gadgets. There was also the obligatory flirtatious banter between Bond and Miss Moneypenny.
raywest ★
I see what you mean. I'm thinking of those films where the opening scene has some link to the main plot (e.g. The Spy Who Loved Me), but Moonraker is like this one, it starts off (spectacularly) with Bond at the end of a previous assignment.