Moving the center of gravity from the aft limit toward beyond the forward limit will cause the stalling speed to change in which way?

Moving the center of gravity from the aft limit toward beyond the forward limit will cause the stalling speed to change in which way?

• A. Decrease
• B. No change
• C. Significant decrease
• D. Increase

Answer: (D)

Moving the CG forward increases longitudinal stability, which requires more tail-down force to balance the aircraft’s nose-down tendency. That tail-down force subtracts from the lift the wing otherwise provides to support the weight, so the wing must generate additional lift to keep level flight. Achieving that extra lift means operating at a higher angle of attack, and since stall occurs at the wing’s maximum lift coefficient, the speed at which that maximum is reached is higher. So, shifting the CG toward the forward limit raises the stalling speed.

Moving the CG forward increases longitudinal stability, which requires more tail-down force to balance the aircraft’s nose-down tendency. That tail-down force subtracts from the lift the wing otherwise provides to support the weight, so the wing must generate additional lift to keep level flight. Achieving that extra lift means operating at a higher angle of attack, and since stall occurs at the wing’s maximum lift coefficient, the speed at which that maximum is reached is higher. So, shifting the CG toward the forward limit raises the stalling speed.