Two Types of Drag That Can Affect an Aircraft

The Tale of Two Drags

A. The Story of Form Drag

Form drag is also known by a couple of other names – ‘pressure drag’ or ‘profile drag’. This drag is all about how the shape and size of an aeroplane affect its journey through the sky.

Defining Form Drag

To put it simply, form drag is the resistance that comes from the aeroplane’s shape as it pushes through the air. Picture the air as a thick soup that the aeroplane has to swim through. Just like it’s harder to push your hand flat through water than it is when your hand is streamlined, an aeroplane has to work harder to push through the air if its shape isn’t aerodynamic.

What Influences Form Drag?

So, what exactly affects form drag? It’s all about the shape and design of an aeroplane. How rounded or pointed the aeroplane’s nose is, how the wings are designed, whether there are things like antennas or landing gear sticking out – all these things can create form drag.

Understanding Form Drag with Examples

Let’s make it simpler. Picture a sports car and a delivery truck. The sports car, sleek and smooth, cut through the air easily. The delivery truck, on the other hand, is like a big box pushing against the wind. Its shape is not streamlined, and it has more surface area for the air to push against, meaning it experiences more form drag.