CG stands for which term?

• A. Center of Gravity
• B. Center of Mass
• C. Center of Lift
• D. Coordinate of Gravity

Answer: (B)

CG stands for Center of Gravity—the balance point of an aircraft. If the airplane were suspended at that single point, it would balance, and the weight acting through all parts of the aircraft would sum to zero moment about that point. In flight, the weight of the airframe, fuel, and payload acts as if all at the CG, so its location directly influences stability and controllability. A forward CG makes the airplane more stable but reduces elevator authority, while an aft CG can improve maneuverability but reduce longitudinal stability and can make the aircraft harder to recover from stalls. The CG moves as fuel is burned or payload shifts, so pilots must keep it within the approved envelope. Center of Gravity is the aviation term for this balance point; Center of Mass is the general physics term for the average location of mass, which aligns with CG in a uniform gravity field but is not the aviation-specific usage here.