Soar to Success: 2026 Flight Instructor Practice Test – Take Off with Confidence!

Induced drag is specifically related to the production of lift. When an aircraft generates lift, the airflow over the wings creates a difference in pressure between the upper and lower surfaces. This pressure differential results in vortices, which increase drag. Induced drag is a byproduct of the lift-generating process; as the angle of attack increases to produce more lift, induced drag also increases. This relationship is significant because it highlights how the demand for lift directly impacts drag, particularly at lower airspeeds.

Parasite drag, on the other hand, does not change in relation to lift since it is primarily associated with the aircraft's shape and surface condition as it moves through the air. Form drag is a component of parasite drag and arises from the shape of the aircraft disrupting the airflow, while skin friction drag is related to the surface texture of the aircraft. Both parasite drag and its components are independent of lift production and instead depend on factors like speed and surface area.