Mxsmanic wrote in
:

Even at a 45-degree bank, the wake will still descend (and it will also
move outward, making it hard to catch as well).

What is the wingspan of the aircraft?

But it will blow the aircraft in the same direction. The wake will
still descend relative to the aircraft.

The aircraft is powered. It need not follow the wind alone.

No. I think they just don't realize that they were descending when they
caught their own wakes.

Altimeters make this less likely than you might believe. Perhaps you are the
one that doesn't realize something. As you admit below, you didn't put much
thought into your determination.

I didn't calculate much; I just looked things up. Without exception,
every source says that the wake descends. And it has to, since that's
the only way to keep the aircraft flying.