stylistic:style_transfer
Parasitic drag experienced by aircraft

This is the area of a flat plate perpendicular to the flow. It is used when comparing the drag of different aircraft For example, the Douglas DC-3 has an equivalent parasite area of 2.20 m (23.7 sq ft) and the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, with 30 years of advancement in aircraft design, an area of 1.91 m (20.6 sq ft) although it carried five times as many passengers.