Word of the Day
6 February 2026
centre of lift
That point on an aircraft where all the various lifting forces act. If the centre or lift is not coincident with the centre of gravity on the fore/aft axis, the plane will pitch, if not coincident on the lateral axis, it will roll.
Why this one
It is a bookkeeping point, not a physical part: the single place you can pretend the whole wing's lift acts. Its value against the centre of gravity is what decides whether the aircraft sits level or wants to pitch, and it shifts as the wing's angle changes.
In use
Shift that pallet aft another metre and the centre of lift ends up ahead of the CG, so she'll want to pitch nose up all the way.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.