Weight and Balance
This is the horizontal distance in inches from the datum to the item's center of gravity
What is Arm
This load includes only usable fuel—not trapped fuel or line fuel.
What is fuel load?
This is the maximum weight an aircraft can have while sitting on the ramp before engine start.
What is maximum ramp weight?
An overloaded airplane requires this to be higher before liftoff.
What is takeoff speed?
A forward CG requires this type of trim setting in cruise, increasing drag
What is nose-up trim?
This imaginary vertical plane is established by the manufacturer and used for all W&B measurements.
What is the datum?
Pilots and passengers, baggage, usable fuel, and drainable oil together make up this category.
What is useful load?
The highest weight at which the aircraft is allowed to take off.
What is maximum takeoff weight?
An increase in weight leads to this climb characteristic.
What is reduced climb rate?
With an aft CG, the aircraft has less of this recovery ability
What is stall recovery?
This is the point where the aircraft would balance if suspended.
What is the center of gravity (CG)?
This value is calculated by multiplying weight × arm.
What is moment?
The highest weight at which the airplane may safely land.
What is maximum landing weight?
Overweight aircraft have this cruise characteristic.
What is reduced cruise speed?
A forward CG results in this cruise performance change due to added drag.
What is slower cruise speed?
This maximum authorized weight includes the aircraft and all of its equipment.
What is maximum weight?
The weight of occupants, cargo, and baggage is called this.
What is payload?
This limit excludes usable fuel; any weight added beyond it must be fuel only
What is maximum zero fuel weight?
One of the landing effects of excessive weight — this value becomes higher.
What is landing speed?
With the CG far aft, the elevator and rudder have less of this
What is control authority?
This term refers to the standard empty weight plus installed optional equipment.
What is basic empty weight?
When a moment is divided by 100, 1,000, or 10,000, it becomes this simplified number.
What is moment index?
This weight includes the airframe, engines, and permanently installed equipment
What is standard empty weight?
Because of reduced performance, a heavily loaded aircraft will experience this shorter operational capability.
What is reduced maximum range?
A forward CG creates this stall characteristic because the wings “feel heavier.”
What is a higher stall speed?