flyer101flyer:
Wind component means something different than wind gradient. Ask the albatross.
Every pilot should understand the effects of a wind gradient.
Surely we can do better in "the very best in technical discussion" than looking things up in various non-aviation dictionaries?
PS definition #3 fits exactly.
I did a phrase and word search in Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators.
Lots of "gradients" and lots of "wind," but no "wind gradient."