The GX-1 is of course a regular F-14. The dog fight between the F-14 and the Mig-28/F-5E was taken from the hit-movie Top Gun (1986).
Pete makes subtle references to the GX-1 being invisible to detection. At that time Stealth aircraft were still a classified secret, although their existence was a popular rumor and became well known a couple of years after this originally aired when the Pentagon introduced the plane to the public in a well publicized air show.
This episode is an obvious remake of Nightmare in the Sky (1976), where the downed experimental jet fighter plane is called the "XJ-7"; this episode is also a nod to veteran actor Dana Elcar, who was also in that episode (the only episode of that series that he appeared in).
The helicopter being used is a Sikorsky S-58 (aka H-34 or "Choctaw"). These were well liked by the military because the clam-shell design allowed for an easy engine replacement. Also, these were originally equipped with Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 cylinder radial engine but many have been retrofitted with a Rolls Royce R250 Turbine.
This marks the first appearance of Walter Gotell in GX-1 (1987) as Starkoss, a Soviet psychic forced to work with the police force. His second and final appearance is in Gold Rush (1989) as Barenov, a Russian general.