Not sure who did the iconic video but from what I recall the original research on which it is based was done by the CAA - the Canadian equivalent of the FAA.
It’s really hard to convey to someone who has no flying experience just how fast and how badly you can become disoriented in those circumstances.
As a former F-111 WSO who has flown tail draggers (Citabria) and driven a model A I suggest the following. Without any guidance Can the WW1 pilot even get into the F-111 - maybe as he has to locate the handle to open the canopy something totally new to him. Can he start the plane - no. Can he safely taxi the plane if it is started -no as he is not use to the braking and throttle. Can he take off if the plane is taxied to the runway. No as first he has various checks to do and then the take off roll requires him to keep the plane on the run way as he approaches 142 knots rotate speed and 157 knots take off and then has to raise the landing gear once airborne. Can he fly the plane if the plane is airborne- yes for a short while as long as he knows what airspeed vs wing sweep combination works as the F-111 was a manually set wing sweep and he would have no clue how to work it. Could he land it. No as setting the flaps, slats, and landing gear is nothing he ever had to do and without those in the proper position he will crash. Can he eject safely No what the heck is an ejection for a WW1 fighter pilot how would he know what to do to initiate ejection.
F-111 pilots went 1st through flying props, then simple jets (T-37), then supersonic trainers (T-38), then hours and hours of class and simulator training, then finally a few flight with a instructor pilot then an instructor WSO.
As a former F-111 WSO the idea that a few minutes is sufficient is not understanding the complexity of flying. A F-111 pilot had to go through props, jets (T-37) and then advanced jets (T-38) to just get selected for the 111. Then he went through weeks and weeks of class then simulator, then more class and then they sat in the right seat as a PWSO learning how to fly the plane. Finally after 2 years from starting pilot training to being a PWSO he went back through more training to be the left seat pilot. As a WSO it took me about 1 year and 9 months before I was qualified after starting navigator school (UNT). The plane was very complex with no auto take off or landing capability and the wing sweep was set manually. It was the 1st plane I ever flew and it took awhile to get comfortable flying at 500’ doing 480 and a while longer to get down to 200’ flying 480.
Thanks.
Guessing the answer is the same for an F16? Even with FBW and a much more forgiving plane.
@LSLGuy
ETA: @RickJay suggested the plane was a Tornado, guessing the answer is still the same.
What would be the latest model plane a WW1 Sopwith Camel driver be able to fly? What about the reverse, would you and @AllenSmithee be able to fly a Camel?
For any plane one needs training and the more complex the plane the more training and simulator hours are needed before getting into a cockpit. As far as flying a WW1 plane I would want a number of ground hours of training then a pilot going over everything as I sit in the cockpit. It doesn’t take much to go from a Cessna 150 to a C-172 but you always have to know the plane’s performance parameters. However a WW1 has aeronautical shortfalls that “modern” planes don’t have and those differences can kill you. I will be flying a 1903 Wright Brothers glider replica in Oct down at Kill Devil Hills NC for a true appreciation of the beginning of flight. So far I have flown Cessnas, Pipers, Citabrias, modern gliders, fighters, ejection capsules, parachutes and I always try to know as much as possible before flying which is why I have made old age.