Verify your aircraft is within weight and CG limits before every flight. Select an aircraft, enter your loading, and see your position on the envelope diagram instantly.
Training use only — these profiles use representative values. Always refer to the POH/AFM for your specific aircraft serial number before any real flight.
| Station | Weight (lbs) | Arm (in) | Moment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Empty Weight | 1,680 | 40.5 | 68,040 | |
| Front Seats | 0 | |||
| Rear Seats | 0 | |||
| Fuel (gal)(40 gal = 240 lbs) | max 56 gal | 11,520 | ||
| Baggage Area 1 | max 120 lbs | 0 | ||
| Baggage Area 2 | max 50 lbs | 0 | ||
| TOTALS | 1,920 | 41.4 | 79,560 |
WITHIN LIMITS
Total Weight
1,920 lbs
Max: 2,550 lbs
CG Location
41.4 in
Range: 35.0 - 47.3 in
Total Moment
79,560
lb-in
Weight and balance calculations appear on every FAA checkride. Can you solve this one?
Weight and balance questions appear on every FAA written exam and checkride. Practice with 1,000+ real exam questions.
Start Free TrialWeight and balance is one of the most critical preflight calculations a pilot must perform. It verifies that the aircraft's total weight does not exceed the maximum gross weight and that the center of gravity (CG) falls within the manufacturer-approved envelope. An overloaded aircraft or one with CG out of limits can be dangerously difficult or impossible to control.
For each item in the aircraft, multiply its weight by its arm (distance from the datum) to get its moment. Sum all weights and all moments. Divide total moment by total weight to get the CG location: CG = Total Moment / Total Weight. Then verify the CG falls within the approved envelope from your POH.
The arm (or station) is the horizontal distance in inches from the datum to the center of gravity of an item. The moment is the turning force of that item about the datum, calculated as weight multiplied by arm (in pound-inches). The datum is a reference point set by the manufacturer.
A forward CG increases stability but requires more elevator authority and increases stall speed. An aft CG decreases stability and can lead to an unrecoverable stall. Both overloading and CG-out-of-limits conditions are among the leading causes of general aviation accidents.
Aviation gasoline (avgas) weighs approximately 6 pounds per gallon. Jet-A fuel weighs about 6.7 pounds per gallon. Always check the actual weight for your specific fuel type, as temperature can slightly affect fuel density.
Weight and balance is one of the most critical preflight calculations a pilot must perform. An aircraft loaded beyond its maximum gross weight or outside its center of gravity (CG) envelope can be dangerously difficult or impossible to control.
The basic formula is straightforward: for each item in the aircraft, multiply its weight by its arm (distance from the datum) to get its moment. Then sum all weights and all moments. Divide total moment by total weight to get the CG location. Finally, verify the total weight does not exceed maximum gross weight and the CG falls within the approved envelope from your POH.
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