How does the recovery from a stall change as the center of gravity (CG) location is moved rearward?

• A. Recovery becomes easier
• B. Recovery remains unchanged
• C. Recovery becomes progressively more difficult
• D. Recovery is impossible

Answer: (C)

When the center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft is moved rearward, the aerodynamic characteristics and control effectiveness are affected in a way that makes recovery from a stall progressively more difficult. This is primarily due to changes in the aircraft's stability and control authority.

A further rearward CG location generally decreases the static stability of the aircraft, which can lead to a higher tendency to pitch up during flight. In a stall condition, the aircraft experiences a loss of lift, and effective control input becomes crucial for recovery. With a rearward CG, the control surfaces may become less effective at restoring the aircraft to a normal flight attitude, making it harder for the pilot to initiate recovery. Additionally, a rearward CG can increase the stall angle of attack, thus increasing the risk of a deeper stall condition.

As the CG moves closer to the limits of the aircraft's designed range, the risk of uncontrolled flight characteristics increases, which ultimately results in a more difficult recovery scenario from a stall. Therefore, as the CG moves rearward, the dynamic response of the aircraft becomes less stable during stall recovery, necessitating greater pilot skill and experience to return to controlled flight.