It's this model dependency that's bothering me. If I take a class and learn, it's not like my understanding will lie dormant until I come across glue and plastic parts.
You do not understand anything about why a plane flies by observing one flying.
An observation is not an explanation. It is not a model.
This is about the need of models to gain understanding of natural phenomena.
If you think they are not needed show where we have an understanding and not just an observation.
Do you seriously not see my error? It's almost as if you're blind to ambiguity.
When a model wears a sun dress, her age is not a function of hair color. Suppose no woman ever modeled!
That use of "model" is different than a model house or model airplane.
I'm gathering (since you apparently aren't going to explain) that you have some mental notion in mind when you say model. This x requires Y dynamic to your assertion lacks backing. What do you have in mind that is required. To say a model is insufficient to convey what you have in mind.
It's crazy obvious that we don't need a model airplane for there to be an airplane, and it's crazy obvious that we don't need a model airplane to have an understanding of what it's like to fly. Stupendously obvious because I'm intentionally using "model" differently than you. This is where you could jump in and explain that I'm using the term differently than you and how you have something else entirely in mind.
Furthermore, it's crazy obvious that if all models quit being models and became bakers and musicians instead, we would still have people who understand well the many aspects of flying airplanes. That would be a second opportunity for you to recognize that I have yet again conflated the meaning of "model."
A model is a representation. Why must every understanding have a corresponding representation? There are many diagrammed models put to paper that help to teach others so that they understand things, but not even models of that kind is what I suspect you have in mind by "model."
You mean something, I'm sure, but what could it be that also makes you think it's always necessary if not some mental phenomena?