Trivia
ZERO magazine (Issue 12, October 1990) had a 'Special Mission' that required the original game to play. In it, the player took control of a Retaliator in the Arctic Ocean, and ended up dogfighting with Russian MiGs, as well as alien ships -- looking suspiciously like escapees from Battlestar Galactica (the original, kids) -- from the team's next release, "Epic".
The (real) F22 on the box covers looks nothing like the (fictional) F22 that is actually in the game. Also, contrary to what many believe, the F29 does exist (though not as a fighter), as the X29 experimental aircraft and, in contrast to the above mentioned F22, the F29 and the real X29 look the same.
This game is widely regarded as being quite bugged. One amusing example I'm aware of is that, even after you eject, you still have control of the plane, so it's actually possible to hit yourself with it.