What happens to the drag of an aircraft as it approaches maximum IAS from stall speed?

As an aircraft approaches its maximum indicated airspeed (IAS) from stall speed, the drag initially experiences a brief decrease due to the effects of airflow and aerodynamic efficiency. During the lower speeds, especially as the aircraft moves away from stall conditions, the airflow over the wings and fuselage begins to streamline, which reduces induced drag.

However, as the speed continues to increase and approaches the maximum IAS, the profile drag, which includes form drag and skin friction drag, begins to dominate. The increase in velocity at this point leads to a significant rise in both profile drag and total drag.

The brief decrease in drag that occurs before the increase can be attributed to the transition from the aerodynamic forces associated with stall conditions to more efficient laminar flow characteristics. Following this initial decrease, the drag consistently increases as the aircraft continues to accelerate towards maximum IAS, making it essential for pilots to understand these dynamics for effective control and performance management of the aircraft.