Which statement about the center of gravity is true?

Which statement about the center of gravity is true?

• A. CG must lie within approved limits to ensure stable handling and sufficient elevator authority.
• B. CG is the geometric center of the wing.
• C. CG is the point where fuel is stored.
• D. CG is the thrust line location.

Answer: (A)

The center of gravity is the point where the aircraft would balance if it were suspended from a pivot. Its position sets how the airplane behaves in pitch and how much control input is needed to rotate or trim the aircraft. The statement is true because CG must lie within approved limits to guarantee stable handling and enough elevator authority. If the CG is within those limits, the airplane remains controllable through the required range of flight attitudes, including takeoff rotation, level flight, and eventual landing. Keeping the CG within limits preserves the proper balance between stability and controllability, and ensures there is enough elevator authority to pitch the nose up or down as needed. The center of gravity is not the geometric center of the wing, nor the point where fuel is stored, nor the thrust line location. It is the overall weight balance point of the aircraft, determined by how loads are distributed throughout the airframe.

The center of gravity is the point where the aircraft would balance if it were suspended from a pivot. Its position sets how the airplane behaves in pitch and how much control input is needed to rotate or trim the aircraft. The statement is true because CG must lie within approved limits to guarantee stable handling and enough elevator authority. If the CG is within those limits, the airplane remains controllable through the required range of flight attitudes, including takeoff rotation, level flight, and eventual landing. Keeping the CG within limits preserves the proper balance between stability and controllability, and ensures there is enough elevator authority to pitch the nose up or down as needed.

The center of gravity is not the geometric center of the wing, nor the point where fuel is stored, nor the thrust line location. It is the overall weight balance point of the aircraft, determined by how loads are distributed throughout the airframe.