What happens to drag as airspeed increases?

As airspeed increases, drag typically increases due to the dynamics of fluid flow around the aircraft. Drag is primarily influenced by two components: parasite drag and induced drag. Parasite drag, which consists of skin friction and form drag, increases with the square of the airspeed. As the aircraft moves faster through the air, the amount of air resistance it encounters also increases, making drag a vital factor to consider in performance and fuel efficiency.

Induced drag, on the other hand, is related to the generation of lift and decreases at higher speeds, but overall, the increase in parasite drag at elevated airspeeds often results in an overall increase in total drag experienced by the aircraft. Consequently, understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots when managing speed, performance, and fuel consumption. This is why selecting C as the answer accurately reflects the principles of flight regarding drag and airspeed.