ORIGINAL: rmh
Cows have plenty of gas - but they can't fly
That's because they don't have the right airfoil
(Why do I get this impression of cows floating around a field suspended from their backsides by hot air balloons, mooing as they try to reach the grass?)
The problem is more often that people have different flying disciplines in mind when they approach these discussions. On many types of model the airfoil is 'meaningless' but that is not the case with all types (gliders!). Excess power is often used as an alternative to efficiency. In models where power is limited for some reason, rubber free flight or gliders, then all of a sudden airfoil choice becomes important.
We are spoilt by very high power to weight propulsion systems these days. It's amazing how little thrust is actually needed to fly when you have the right planform, aspect ratio and airfoil.
ORIGINAL: speedracerntrixie
So when it encounters wind it really is a matter of a change in airspeed. If the airplane is not trimmed optimal then it react to the change in airspeed whether it be an increase or decrease.
The reaction to a change in airspeed is mostly a stability thing. Gust disturbances are a combination of a change in airspeed and a change in angle of attack. This means inertia has an effect but also that a model flying faster (high wingloading) will experience a smaller disturbance in terms of the relative changes.
Again it depends on what you are trying to achieve and compromises must be made. Wing loading isn't everything. Thermal sail planes often need to be ballasted. Yeah the sink rate is higher but a low sink rate is irrelevant if you can't get to the next thermal!