The drag/speed curve of an airplane is actually U-shaped. Parasitic drag does increase with speed, but induced drag—the drag that results from the production of

The drag/speed curve of an airplane is actually U-shaped. Parasitic drag does increase with speed, but induced drag—the drag that results from the production of lift—is highest at slow speeds. The combination of these two curves is a U. The bottom of the drag curve is the speed at which the airplane will achieve maximum range for a given quantity of fuel; 76% of that speed will achieve maximum endurance. The distinction between range and endurance is that of distance versus time. Max range will get the most distance out of one pound of fuel, while max endurance gets you the most time out of that pound of fuel.