Reading this saga, as I have, an alternative more kindly scenario, which might go as follows:-
For World Wide publicity purposes it is decided by big business to do a sort of 'game show' film, mimicking a famous flight & with all the usual semi concealment of the supporting team's activities.
All they need now is someone as nominal 'pilot' for the central role; some flying capability might help, but more necessary overall they will need an excellent raconteur for all the post show follow ups.
Perhaps this thread's concentration on the main actor really misses the correct target, which is 'big business' intent on creating a tolerable facsimile of a historic flight which to some extent has back-fired on them. However their publicity machine is now protecting the promoters at the eventual expense of the character of a witless pawn.
mike hallam.