An increase in gross weight affects the drag vector in which direction?

• A. Down and Left
• B. Up and Right
• C. Up and Left
• D. Down and Right

Answer: (B)

When you increase the aircraft’s gross weight, you must generate more lift to balance the weight in steady flight. That extra lift comes from a higher angle of attack, which also increases induced drag. In the common force-vector diagram used for these questions, the rise in induced drag tilts the drag vector upward relative to the aircraft, giving it an upward component in addition to the forward (rightward) component. So the overall drag vector in that diagram points Up and Right.