What is the purpose of the center of gravity in flight?

• A. The CG determines aircraft balance and affects stability, controllability, and performance
• B. The CG determines fuel capacity
• C. The CG determines color of aircraft
• D. The CG determines average altitude of flight

Answer: (D)

The center of gravity is the point at which the aircraft’s weight is considered to act, so it determines how the airplane balances in flight. That balance directly influences how stable the aircraft feels, how easily it can be controlled, and how it will perform overall. If the CG is too far forward, the nose tends to want to dive and you’ll need more elevator input to raise the nose, which can raise stall speed and reduce pitch authority. If the CG is too far aft, the airplane can become overly lively or even unstable, making it hard to keep straight and level and increasing the risk of an unintended stall.

Because of this, keeping the weight within the approved CG range is essential for predictable handling, safe performance, and proper control authority across all phases of flight. The center of gravity does not determine fuel capacity, the color of the aircraft, or the average altitude of flight; those are governed by different design and operational factors.