The balancing point of an aircraft is known as which center?

• A. Center of Gravity
• B. Center of Pressure
• C. Neutral Point
• D. Aerodynamic Center

Answer: (C)

The balancing point in this sense is the neutral point. This is the aerodynamic center of the entire airplane—the point about which the net pitching moment does not change with angle of attack. It represents the aftmost location where the aircraft can still be statically stable: if the center of gravity lies forward of the neutral point, restoring pitching moments exist and the airplane is statically stable; if the CG moves to the neutral point, stability is lost (zero stability). The center of gravity is the actual weight balance point, the center of pressure is where the resultant lift acts (and moves with angle of attack), and the aerodynamic center of the whole aircraft is another way of naming the neutral point. So the balancing point described here is the neutral point.