However, then they might not be able to know what to do next. And then, the biggest threat to anyone is taking off and flying that plane alone in a solo. I know I have done this and it wasn't easy for me at all, likely because another pilot, a female almost hit me while I was trying to prepare for landing my Cessna 152. So, I had to white knuckle myself for 3 landings to completely my first solo flight.
So, the real test isn't taking off in a plane it is in flying that plane, missing other planes and being able to land that plane where you want to under some conditions. I say, some conditions because there are times no one should be piloting a small plane because the likelihood of crashing it into the ground if they try to land is just too great. For example, a wind any direction over about 20 o 30 miles per hour is going to likely kill most novice pilots if they try to land in that. The worst likely would be a 20 to 30 mile per hour wind from the side in gusts or the same from the back when trying to land. Gusts from either of the sides or from the back when trying to land a small plane could easily be fatal unless the pilot has a great deal of experience or is a natural stunt pilot. However, I have done this from the side in 20plus miles per hour winds many times. But, I also almost drove the tips of one wing or the other into the ground trying to do this too. So, this isn't easy for most people either.
So, can anyone who can drive a car fly a plane? No. But, they likely could take off a plane(a Cessna 152 or it's like in another brand) if the weather conditions were right and if there were enough visibility if they had a flying instructor next to them they could fly around if there wasn't much air traffic.
So, you (if you are in the U.S.) are likely going to be sitting to the left like we drive a car. Here are some of the differences between flying a plane and driving a car:
First of all you only touch the steering wheel (pilots call this a yoke) with your left hand except in real emergencies when flying. This was the hardest single thing for me to get used to during pilot training of ONLY touching the yoke with my left hand only.
The reason for this is you use your right hand to operate all the other controls like the throttle and everything else on the dashboard including your landing flaps which is usually between the seats to your right with your right hand. Then steering the plane on the ground during takeoffs and landings and taxiing around you steer with your foot pedals. I found this hard to get used to to. Also, to brake while on the ground you push both foot pedals at once to stop the plane. (just don't do this when you are landing or your plane will crash up onto it's nose. So, only taxiing at very slow speed under about 10 to 15 miles per hour to you want to ever put on the brakes by pushing down on both foot pedals at the same time. Otherwise the plane will just crash by going nose down and tail up.
So, already you get the feel that there is no real similarity at all between flying and driving on the ground or in the air. And this for car drivers takes some getting used to.
Also, a plane is not like a car in that you cannot just take your foot off the gas and have it stop soon. In a plane if you take off the hand throttle to your right you will just glide (if your nose is down) until you eventually crash into the ground. IF your nose isn't down and you cut the throttle you will simply lose lift and start to fall out of the sky in an uncontrolled way.
So, can anyone who drives a car fly a plane? No. But, with an instructor they might be able to take off in a plane as long as the instructor is always watching and the instructor lands the plane.
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