Weight Shifting and Center of Gravity

Running Head: WEIGHT SHIFTING AND CENTER OF GRAVITY 1

Weight Shifting and Center of Gravity

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Author Note

This paper was prepared for ASCI 202.

WEIGHT SHIFTING AND CENTER OF GRAVITY 2

Abstract

My topic revolves around the consequences of weight shifting on an aircraft’s Center of Gravity (CG). When weight shifts on an aircraft during flight there can be severe ramifications. Most weight shifting scenarios in-flight involve changes in fuel load. However, on large cargo aircraft, weight shifting can involve the movement of cargo within the airplane. Shifting of large amounts of weight within an aircraft’s hold during flight must be minimized and/or controlled or catastrophic results can occur.

WEIGHT SHIFTING AND CENTER OF GRAVITY 3

Center of Gravity simply defined is, the point at which the entire weight of a body may be considered as concentrated so that if supported at this point the body would remain in equilibrium in any position. ("Merriam-Webster on line dictionary", n.d.) With respect to aeronautics, center of gravity is the point at which an aircraft would balance if it were possible to suspend it at that same point and is extremely important because changes in the center of gravity have a direct bearing on flight stability. Several different factors can affect center of gravity for example, fuel loads, crew/passengers, cargo/baggage placement, and changes to installed equipment. While all of these can affect an aircraft’s center of gravity, placement and security of cargo is critical because unintended shifts in cargo can make managing center of gravity very difficult.

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