Genstabler,
I can't comment on the first picture, but with regard to the second, wikipedia says:
Between appointments in 2002, Dannatt spent six weeks at the School of Army Aviation at Army Air Corps Middle Wallop, where he was trained as a helicopter pilot in order to fulfil his duties as Colonel Commandant of the Army Air Corps (AAC), to which he was appointed on 1 April 2004.
In 2002 General Dannatt was 52. While not wishing to deride his achievements, I would suggest the above comments, if true of course, imply that he didn't exactly have a deep and extensive "flying background".
I would therefore suggest that his example does not really rebut teeteringheads arguement!