My dad flew 23 airplane types - single engine, multi engine, 2 wings, 1 wing, bombers, fighters, jets, and piston engines. In his papers I found some of the written exams he had to pass to get certified to fly them. Just "knowing how to fly" is a good way to get yourself killed.

There was one incident where his F-86 Saber jet had its engine quit. He was faced with the choice of bailing out or gliding back to base. Having passed the written test, he knew how to calculate the best gliding angle, the best velocity, the best configuration of the airplane, took into account the wind, the altitude, and the weight, and figured he could bring the bird in. Which he did, safely.

All that boring stuff that requires study and it has to reside in your brain.