Factual error: Udaipur where the floating palace is located is 350km from Agra, so Bond wouldn't be passing Taj Mahal upon landing in the helicopter.
Audio problem: In the opening scene, Bianca says to Bond, "They moved the flight up to this afternoon", but her mouth does not match what she is saying.
Other mistake: The opening scene is at a military airbase which is hosting an equestrian event near the hanger that Bond blows up, and what an explosion that is, but all the civilians are more interested looking at Bond flying off instead of reacting to the massive explosion that just happened nearby.
Factual error: In the forest, Bond runs into a giant spider web. First, the spider's thread is far too thick and resistant. No cobweb could slow a person down. Second, there are several spiders hanging in the same web. Spiders don't share their nets with others. Third, these spiders are supposed to look like tarantulas, which don't spin webs. (00:59:30)
Revealing mistake: When Bond falls off the train the scenery switches from outdoor filming to an obvious film set.
Continuity mistake: When Bond is pinned to the wooden door by the knives we see each knife cut his shirt, trapping him to the door, but when he opens the door and grabs the knife with his left hand, his left arm is now completely free, with no holes or rips on his sleeve.
Factual error: Orlov hands Khan a map "Die Umgebung Berns." Bern is the capital city of Switzerland which has nothing to do with the movie.
Continuity mistake: During the fight on the roof of the train, the scenery in the background changes dramatically between shots. Especially when the surviving knife artist climbs up on the roof. There we are in a dense forest, and when we cut to Bond, we are on an open field.
Revealing mistake: During the climax when the plane explodes, you see a shot of Kamal Kahn screaming, the you see it explode. When it explodes you can see the plane is crumpled up before it even hits the ground.
Continuity mistake: At the beginning of the film, Bond takes off with his plane. When he is about to take off you can see the wheels under the plane, but in the next shot the wheels are gone.
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.