What term describes the combined load of the airplane itself, the crew, fuel, cargo or baggage?

• A. Weight
• B. Lift
• C. Thrust
• D. Drag

Answer: (A)

The combined load described is weight. It’s the downward force acting on the airplane due to gravity on the entire mass of the aircraft, including the airframe, crew, fuel, cargo, and baggage. This total weight can change as fuel is burned or payload is added or removed, and it directly determines how much lift is needed to fly.

In steady level flight, lift must balance weight. If weight increases, more lift (or a higher angle of attack) is required to maintain level flight; if weight decreases, less lift is sufficient. Lift, thrust, and drag are separate forces: lift acts upward, thrust pushes forward, and drag resists the motion. None of those describe the total downward load—the weight.