What determines the longitudinal stability of an airplane?
A
The location of the CG with respect to the center of lift.✓ Correct Answer
B
The effectiveness of the horizontal stabilizer, rudder, and rudder trim tab.
C
The relationship of thrust and lift to weight and drag.
Explanation
Longitudinal (pitch) stability depends mainly on where the center of gravity is relative to the center of lift: with the CG ahead of the center of lift, the tail provides a balancing down force that tends to return the airplane to its trimmed attitude. The rudder affects directional stability, and the balance of the four forces describes equilibrium, not stability.
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