If an item of useful load located aft of an aircraft's center of gravity is removed, the center of gravity will move in which direction, all else equal?

• A. Forward
• B. Backward
• C. Unchanged
• D. Randomly

Answer: (A)

Center of gravity is the balance point of the airplane, determined by how its weight is distributed. If you remove a piece of useful load that sits behind the center of gravity, you’re taking away weight on the aft side. That reduces the aft moments (weight times distance behind the CG) while the forward weights stay the same, so the overall balance shifts toward the front. In other words, the center of gravity moves forward. The farther back that item was and the heavier it was, the more noticeable the forward shift. If instead you removed weight in front of the CG, the shift would be toward the back.