The center of gravity is defined as the point about which the aircraft would balance.

• A. The wing centerline
• B. The tail
• C. The nose
• D. The point about which the aircraft would balance

Answer: (D)

The balancing point of the airplane—the center of gravity. The center of gravity is defined as the point about which the aircraft would balance if supported at a single point. It isn’t a physical part like the wing centerline, tail, or nose; it’s a calculated point based on the distribution of weight and their distances from a reference. This point along the aircraft’s longitudinal axis determines stability and controllability: if the CG is too far forward, you’ll need more nose-down control; if it’s too far aft, the airplane becomes less stable but more maneuverable. So describing it as the point about which the aircraft would balance accurately captures the concept.