Stupidity: When Cougar (and later, Maverick and Goose) report to Stinger's office at the beginning of the film, a photo of an F-5 in flight (or possibly a T-38) appears on the wall beside his desk. However, the F-5s that appear in this movie are standing in as MiGs. Of all the aircraft photos the set designer could have selected for this scene, it seems strange to use one of an "enemy" aircraft.
Stupidity: Scott spread his lie about the protagonist telling Dean, who tells Frank (without details, just that the guy is 'a good fighter'). So barely one person (acting rather childish for a supposed master) has any animosity towards the new fella. There are over two dozens people in the class (in a 'good guys' gym, not one of those evil moustache twirling villain dens) and yet everyone is happy and cheerful watching a black belt beat the snot out of a schoolboy redbelt, for no reason. Most people there are grown-ups and there are black belts; they should be horrified or at least VERY puzzled. (00:30:00)