Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

Changes in the center of pressure of a wing affect the aircraft's:

1. Lift/drag ratio.

2. Lifting capacity.

3. Aerodynamic balance and controllability.

The correct answer is: Aerodynamic balance and controllability.

The center of pressure is the point on the wing where the total lift force is considered to act. When the position of the center of pressure changes, it influences the distribution of aerodynamic forces on the aircraft, which directly affects aerodynamic balance and controllability. For instance, if the center of pressure moves forward or backward as the angle of attack changes, this can shift the effective location of lift relative to the center of gravity. Such shifts can result in changes to the pitching moments experienced by the aircraft, requiring the pilot to exert more control inputs to maintain stable flight. Therefore, stability and the ease of control are closely tied to the behavior of the center of pressure, particularly in response to variations in angle of attack, speed, and configurations like flap deployment. In contrast, while changes in the center of pressure can indirectly impact lift/drag ratio and lifting capacity, those effects are secondary to the primary influence on controllability and balance. Hence, the most accurate answer relates to how changes in the center of pressure specifically affect the aerodynamic balance and controllability of the aircraft.