When a jet aircraft is flown at the appropriate airspeed for maximum range, which type of drag predominates?

When a jet aircraft is flown at the airspeed for maximum range, parasite drag predominates. This is because maximum range airspeed is typically a higher speed than the speed at which induced drag is minimized. At this specific airspeed, the overall drag is influenced more by the aerodynamic drag associated with the aircraft's shape and surface area, which is classified as parasite drag.

Parasite drag increases with the square of the airspeed, which means that as the aircraft flies faster, the impact of parasite drag becomes more significant. In contrast, induced drag is related to lift generation and decreases as airspeed increases. Therefore, when aiming for maximum range, the goal is to find a speed that optimally balances parasite drag with the reduced induced drag at higher speeds, but the parasite drag still remains the larger contributor at this efficiency point.

In summary, flying at the appropriate speed for maximum range results in parasite drag being the primary factor in overall drag, making it the correct answer.