How is center of gravity calculated?

For each item you multiply its weight by its arm (distance from the datum) to get a moment. Add every moment, add every weight, then divide total moment by total weight. That quotient is the CG, and it must fall inside the aircraft's forward and aft limits.

What moves the CG forward or aft?

Loading behind the CG (rear seats, aft baggage) moves it aft; loading ahead of it moves it forward. Burning fuel shifts the CG toward whichever end the tanks are away from. Watch the dot move as you drag each slider.

Can I use this for a real flight?

No. These are generic teaching profiles, not any specific aircraft's data. For a real flight, always use your aircraft's POH and its current empty-weight and CG records.

Home Tools Weight & Balance

Weight & Balance Sandbox

Weight and balance is easier to feel than to memorize. Load a generic trainer, drag the weights and fuel, and watch the center of gravity move across the envelope in real time.

Pilot and front passenger340 lb

Rear passengers0 lb

Fuel40 gal (240 lb)

Baggage20 lb

2,280 lb

Gross weight (limit 2,450)

40.9 in

Center of gravity

Within limits

Illustrative only. These are generic teaching profiles, not any specific aircraft's data. Fuel is figured at 6 lb per gallon. For a real flight, compute weight and balance from your aircraft's POH and current empty-weight records.

Reading the envelope

The shaded shape is the approved envelope: the airplane is safe to fly when the loaded point sits inside it, both under the maximum weight and between the forward and aft CG limits. Rear seats and aft baggage pull the dot to the right (aft); a heavy front seat pulls it left (forward). Fuel burn moves it depending on where the tanks sit.

An aft CG makes the airplane less stable and harder to recover from a stall; a forward CG makes it nose-heavy and raises the stall speed. Both matter, which is why the checkride expects the full computation from your POH.