  The equilibrium state of a flexible fiber settling in a viscous fluid is
examined using a combination of macroscopic experiments, numerical simulations
and scaling arguments. We identify three regimes having different signatures on
this equilibrium configuration of the elastic filament: weak and large
deformation regimes wherein the drag is proportional to the settling velocity
as expected in Stokes flow and an intermediate elastic reconfiguration regime
where the filament deforms to adopt a shape with a smaller drag which is no
longer linearly proportional to the velocity.
