I am not sure that good pilots are good drivers.

It took some nerve to drive with him,
but his flying seemed perfect.  

I do not know about today, but most of my life, a common thread, was that at some young age they were inspired by a pilot, a story of a pilot, or seeing a plane fly. I know it is explained by science, but it is magic.

Then they read books about pilots, exploits, and/or aviation and usually built model airplanes. So simple, so child like, so “American” – but of course much more than American. No doubt Japs and Nazis were doing the same.