How to create a Content Type that reuses data from existing Content Type?

Question

I have a specific use case that does not seem to be covered by existing Drupal 7 modules. I need to be able to create a "content type" that is created by choosing from a list of existing content.

Use Case:
A company that trains new pilots needs two content types:
Type 1: Schedule a training flight.
Type 2: Post training flight details.

Type 1 has the following fields:
(flight_id,trainer_name, plane_name, new_pilot_name, date, airport, flight_status)

IMPORTANT:
Type 2 is created when an admin clicks on the flight_id from a list of scheduled flights.

Type 2 is required to contain the following data/fields:
(content from type 1, trainer_notes, new_pilot_grade)

Answer 1

You can use Entity reference:

Provides a field type that can reference arbitrary entities:

• A generic entity reference field
• Four widgets:
  • Two implemented on top of the Options module (Select and Radios/Checkboxes),
  • Two autocomplete widgets (one with one text field per entry, one tag-style with comma-separated entries in the same text field)

And the Inline Entity Form module:

Provides a widget for inline management (creation, modification, removal) of referenced entities. The primary use case is the parent -> children one (product display -> products, order -> line items, etc.), where the child entities are never managed outside the parent form. Existing entities can also be referenced.

Others similar modules to Inline Entity Form:

Entityreference Autocreate

A deliberately simple way to invent nodes on the fly in order to refer to them via entityreference.

References dialog (beta2 release only)

This module extends reference fields like the user and node reference fields by adding links to add, edit and search for references through a dialog.

Autocreate Node Reference

Autocreate Node Reference adds a node reference field and automatically creates the referred node by cloning a template node.

Node Reference Create

Node Reference Create is an enhancement to the nodereference autocomplete widget that allows users to reference non-existent nodes.

Entity connect (rc5 release only)

It will help you to improve the User Experience for creation of new entities or edition of linked entities on your entity reference fields.

The "add a new" button will enable you to add / create a new entity. The first form will be cached then the new form will be generated. Once the new form is completed and saved the user will return to the original form.

EDIT: The module most used is Inline Entity Form, but it doesn't works with the Automatic Nodetitles module, but I know that Entity connect works fine with it. In addition with Entity connect you can edit existing entities. In my case I prefer Entity connect.

Answer 2

You can use the field node References module

With it you can add the content types you want as fields in your new content type and then use views to display it.