The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word FEATHERY
F
E
A
T
H
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Y
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "how it feels to touch down" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case how it feels to touch down = feathery.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FEATHERY mean?
FEATHERY noun- (furry fandom) Someone who roleplays or describes themselves as being a bird or bird-like animal character with human characteristics.
- Resembling feathers.
- Covered with feathers.