Which statement describes the flight characteristics of a forward center of gravity?

• A. Decreased stability and lower stall speed
• B. Increased maneuverability
• C. Increased longitudinal stability and lower stall speed
• D. Increased longitudinal stability and higher stall speed

Answer: (D)

A forward center of gravity makes the aircraft more stable in pitch because any slight nose-up or nose-down disturbance creates a restoring moment that tends to return the airplane to level flight. With the CG ahead of the aerodynamic center, the tail must push down more to balance the nose-down tendency, which means the wing must generate more lift to support the weight plus that additional downward tail load. Generating more lift at the same airspeed pushes the wing closer to its maximum lift capability, so the speed at which stall occurs increases. So a forward CG leads to increased longitudinal stability and higher stall speed.