What is weight in aviation terms?

• A. The force exerted by gravity on the aircraft.
• B. The lift produced by the wings.
• C. The thrust produced by the engines.
• D. The force that resists motion through the air.

Answer: (A)

Weight is the gravitational force acting on the aircraft. It comes from Earth's gravity pulling on the aircraft’s mass, and is calculated as mass times gravitational acceleration. Weight can change during flight as fuel is burned and payload changes. It always acts downward toward the Earth and is balanced by lift in steady, level flight. It’s one of the four fundamental forces of flight, distinct from lift, thrust, and drag.