Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

During an ascent, what typically happens to aircraft performance if the weight increases?

1. Rate of climb decreases

2. Stall speed decreases

3. Fuel consumption increases

4. Flight altitude is limited

The correct answer is: Rate of climb decreases

When the weight of an aircraft increases, the rate of climb generally decreases. This is due to the fact that all aircraft have a specific performance envelope, which is influenced significantly by weight. Heavier aircraft require more lift to remain airborne, which means that the wings need to produce greater lift at a given airspeed. If the aircraft is heavier, it requires a higher angle of attack to produce the necessary lift, which can lead to a reduced climb rate because the engine’s thrust may not increase proportionately to the weight gain. In terms of the other options, while stall speed is affected by weight, it actually increases as weight goes up, because stall speed is a function of the square root of the aircraft's weight. Fuel consumption typically increases with a heavier load during cruise flight due to the need for more thrust, but during the initial ascent performance considerations are more critical. Lastly, flight altitude may be limited due to increased weight impacting the climb rate, but this is more of an outcome rather than a direct effect on performance during ascent. In summary, as weight increases, the aircraft’s ability to climb effectively decreases, confirming that the rate of climb reduces with heavier loads.