Murphy (Roy Schneider) is a grizzled helicopter pilot working for the LAPD, haunted by his past in Vietnam. He is invited to take part in a secret new programme with an advanced helicopter called Blue Thunder which can listen in on conversations, travel silently when needed and has a Gatling gun!
The helicopter has been developed by a team involving Murphy's old comrade Cochrane (Malcolm McDowell) whom Murphy loathes. Murphy and his assistant Lymangood (Daniel Stern) discover (using Blue Thunder's capabilities of course) that a secret government group including Cochrane is planning to use the helicopter for nefarious purposes...
So, this is a very good technology action film with a good helping of conspiracy and corruption as well. To be honest if you are an aviation fan Blue Thunder looks a bit suspect (a light Gazelle with extra plates bolted on basically) but the action scenes are solid and very tense.
