What Is Induced Drag?

Induced drag is the undesirable but unavoidable by-product of lift, and increases in direct proportion to increases in angle of attack. The greater the angle of attack up to the critical angle, the greater the amount of lift developed, and the greater the induced drag. The airflow around the wing is deflected downward, producing a rearward component to the lift vector, which is induced drag. The amount of air deflected downward decreases greatly at higher angles of attack; therefore, the higher the angle of attack or the slower the aircraft is flown, the greater the induced drag.