How does increased weight affect aircraft performance?

Increased weight has a significant impact on aircraft performance, and understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots. With greater weight, the aircraft requires more lift to become airborne. This can lead to several adverse performance effects.

For example, the increased weight will typically result in a higher takeoff speed, requiring more distance to achieve the necessary speed for lift-off. Consequently, the ground roll—the distance the aircraft travels before becoming airborne—will generally increase, not decrease. Additionally, a heavier aircraft often experiences a reduced climb rate due to the need for more power to overcome the additional weight. This also affects stall speed, which increases with weight, requiring more careful management during maneuvers.

Finally, cruise performance is generally hindered by increased weight. Heavier aircraft may see a decrease in fuel efficiency, a lower maximum altitude, and a reduced service ceiling, as the power-to-weight ratio is less favorable. Therefore, increased weight broadly decreases performance across multiple phases of flight, making the statement that it decreases all aspects of performance accurate.