That was the whole plot of Blue Thunder.
The air above Los Angeles has become a battle ground in this explosive action thriller. Roy Scheider (JAWS) stars as Frank Murphy, a courageous and honorable Los Angeles police officer who is chosen to test run Blue Thunder, a high-tech experimental attack helicopter that comes complete with listening devices, camera lenses, and computer files. While flying Blue Thunder, Murphy and his partner, Lymangood (Daniel Stern) discover that the government intends on using the helicopter for corrupt crowd control and surveillance. The top-secret operation is being run by a sinister colonel (Malcolm McDowell), who will stop at nothing to keep the devious military conspiracy a secret. In an effort to expose the covert military operation Murphy decides to "borrow" Blue Thunder, flying against military and police aircrafts on a death-defying flight. Superb special effects and daredevil stunts combine with breathtaking cinematography to create a dizzying battle for justice.
BLUE THUNDER features one of actor Warren Oates's final film appearances.