What is the relationship between airspeed and drag during flight?

The relationship between airspeed and drag during flight is defined primarily by the principles of aerodynamics. As the airspeed of an aircraft increases, the drag acting upon it also increases. This occurs due to two primary components of drag: parasite drag and induced drag.

Parasite drag, which includes form drag and skin friction, increases with the square of the airspeed. This means that even small increases in speed can lead to a significant rise in parasite drag. Induced drag, on the other hand, is related to the generation of lift and tends to decrease with increased airspeed. However, at higher speeds, the dominant factor is the increase in parasite drag, leading to the overall conclusion that drag increases with airspeed.

This relationship is critical for pilots to understand as they need to consider drag when managing airspeed during various phases of flight.

Understanding that drag does not remain constant and does not increase linearly with airspeed is also important. The relationship between drag and airspeed is more complex and is expressed mathematically rather than simply linear, making it crucial for pilots and engineers to recognize the impact of speed changes on drag during flight.