Performance and weight and balanceQuestion 842 of 934

An airplane in steady flight at 100 knots accelerates to 200 knots. By what factor does the power needed to overcome parasite drag increase?

  1. Eight
  2. Two
  3. Four
  4. Sixteen
Show answer

Correct answer: Eight

The parasite drag becomes four times as great, but the power required is eight times the original value.

Source: Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance — Performance, page 261

Practice performance and weight and balance

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026