RE: High wind technique
My instructor told me the same thing about the plane not feeling the wind. To me, there is no doubt that the wind (and not just gusts) have an effect on the plane, otherwise we would not have this discussion about how best to land on crosswinds. Tail winds make a flight faster and a head wind the opposite. From what I see, the idea of feel could be explained by a boat going at one speed but its speed over water is different than the speed over ground if there is a current. Is that what you mean by "feel" the wind?
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