Why must the CG remain within prescribed limits?

Why must the CG remain within prescribed limits?

• A. It affects only color scheme of livery.
• B. It has no impact on stall behavior.
• C. It affects stability, handling, and performance, and must stay within limits.
• D. It only matters during takeoff.

Answer: (C)

Center of gravity position directly governs longitudinal stability and control effectiveness. When the CG is within the prescribed limits, the airplane stays predictable in pitch, trims readily, and responds to inputs in a safe, controllable way across all phases of flight. If the CG is moved forward, the airplane becomes more stable and less pitch-sensitive, but it requires more elevator force to rotate and to flare, and performance margins can be reduced. If the CG is moved aft, stability and pitch damping are reduced, making the airplane more sensitive to control inputs and harder to recover from unusual attitudes or stalls. These limits are set to ensure safe handling, stall behavior, and overall performance throughout takeoff, cruise, and landing. Therefore, staying within the prescribed CG limits is essential for stable, safe flight.

Center of gravity position directly governs longitudinal stability and control effectiveness. When the CG is within the prescribed limits, the airplane stays predictable in pitch, trims readily, and responds to inputs in a safe, controllable way across all phases of flight. If the CG is moved forward, the airplane becomes more stable and less pitch-sensitive, but it requires more elevator force to rotate and to flare, and performance margins can be reduced. If the CG is moved aft, stability and pitch damping are reduced, making the airplane more sensitive to control inputs and harder to recover from unusual attitudes or stalls. These limits are set to ensure safe handling, stall behavior, and overall performance throughout takeoff, cruise, and landing. Therefore, staying within the prescribed CG limits is essential for stable, safe flight.