Which performance parameter is described as increased due to overweight?

• A. Rate of climb
• B. Angle of climb
• C. Takeoff speed
• D. Stall speed

Answer: (B)

When weight increases, the aircraft must generate more lift to overcome gravity, and the margin of thrust available for climbing becomes smaller. Because of this, even though you may not gain vertical speed as quickly (the rate of climb tends to drop), you often end up flying a steeper flight path to gain altitude within the same or reduced forward speed. In other words, the climb path angle (how steeply you’re climbing relative to the horizon) can become larger as weight grows, even though the actual climb rate is reduced. The heavier the aircraft, the higher the lift demand and the more restricted your thrust and acceleration are, which is why climb angle can increase while climb rate decreases. For completeness, heavier weight also raises the stall speed and takeoff speed, reflecting the general trend that extra weight worsens overall climb performance.