To keep CG near the center of the envelope, which loading strategy might you use?

• A. Distribute weight toward the tail
• B. Distribute weight more toward the mid-arms or adjust forward/aft loads to balance around the center CG
• C. Place all weight forward
• D. Keep total weight constant but ignore distribution

Answer: (B)

Keeping the aircraft’s center of gravity near the middle of its allowable range is about how weight is distributed along the longitudinal axis. When the CG sits near the center of the envelope, the airplane tends to be more stable in pitch and gives the pilot adequate elevator authority for takeoff, climbs, turns, and landings across different weights and speeds.

The best loading approach, therefore, is to place payload so that the CG is balanced around the center. That means distributing weight toward the mid-arms or adjusting forward and aft loads to keep the overall CG close to the center. If you shift weight toward the tail, the CG moves aft, which can reduce stability and increase the risk of out-of-control behavior in extreme situations. If you put everything forward, the CG moves forward, requiring more elevator input to rotate and potentially degrading performance.

Keeping total weight constant but ignoring distribution won’t keep the CG near the center, because the location of weight, not just the amount, determines the CG. So the proposed strategy directly targets maintaining a centered CG by balancing where the weight sits.