Weight is defined as what?

• A. The forward force produced by aircraft engines
• B. Air resistance against the aircraft that slows it down
• C. Gravity acting on the total mass of the aircraft and all of its contents
• D. The upward force generated by the wings

Answer: (C)

Weight is the gravitational force pulling downward on the aircraft’s total mass, including all passengers, cargo, and fuel. In simple terms, weight equals mass times gravity, and it acts toward the center of the Earth. This is the force that lift must counteract during flight, while other forces like thrust and drag play different roles in the airplane’s motion and resistance.