re: Do you think you could fly a plane with no formal training? A helicopter?

I've got about 8000 hours in a 727, about 5000 in 757/767s, about 6000 hours in a 777 and I still see highly experienced pilots that are new to the aircraft get "unstable" when approaching to land. so, no, the answer is no.

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unstable?

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on speed, on localizer, on glide slope, engines spooled up, projectting to land on the right runway and in the touch down zone criteria

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Does that make you uneasy?

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no, it's not like we're going to crash, it's just we have to go around and do it again, the criteria is ultra conservative

There is one story that goes around in the army aviation community about a crew chief that didn't have any formal training in flying a Blackhawk. But when one of the pilots got hit during a mission he took over and flew it with a co-pilot.

Takeoffs are optional. Landings are mandatory.

probably a 172 if you knew the landing and takeoff speeds and where the throttle and brakes are and no cross wind

Helicopter no

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Having a discussion with a buddy of mine, I say could take off, fly, and land a small aircraft.

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Lets say your attempting to fly a Cessna 172. You could power up, apply a little right rudder and lift off, sure. However, your first attempt at landing would likely end in a ground loop, or a damaged nose strut. The lighter the aircraft the more difficult to land. That's why they make great trainers to hone your stick and rudder skills.

the question isn't if i could fly it. it's how long i could fly it

When I worked construction one of the crane operators let me frick with his tower crane. That was some shite.