Which unit is typically used to express the CG location on small aircraft?

Which unit is typically used to express the CG location on small aircraft?

• A. Inches
• B. Feet
• C. Pounds
• D. Meters

Answer: (A)

Center of gravity location is a distance along the airplane from a fixed reference point (the datum). For small, general aviation airplanes, that arm is given in inches on the weight-and-balance data. Expressing the CG in inches keeps calculations precise and consistent with the moment concept (weight in pounds times arm in inches gives inch-pounds). Using feet would be less precise for these small distances, pounds alone describe weight, not position, and meters aren’t the standard unit in typical GA documentation. So, inches is the standard unit for CG location on small aircraft.

Center of gravity location is a distance along the airplane from a fixed reference point (the datum). For small, general aviation airplanes, that arm is given in inches on the weight-and-balance data. Expressing the CG in inches keeps calculations precise and consistent with the moment concept (weight in pounds times arm in inches gives inch-pounds). Using feet would be less precise for these small distances, pounds alone describe weight, not position, and meters aren’t the standard unit in typical GA documentation. So, inches is the standard unit for CG location on small aircraft.