Rotorcraft Flying Menu >General Aerodynamics >Drag > Parasite Drag

Parasite drag is present any time the helicopter is moving through the air. This type of drag increases with airspeed. Nonlifting components of the helicopter, such as the cabin, rotor mast, tail, and landing gear, contribute to par-asite drag. Any loss of momentum by the airstream, due to such things as openings for engine cooling, creates additional parasite drag. Because of its rapid increase with increasing airspeed, parasite drag is the major cause of drag at higher airspeeds. Parasite drag varies with the square of the velocity. Doubling the airspeed increases the parasite drag four times.