Higher gross weight affects stall speed and takeoff/landing distances by:

• A. Stall speed decreases; takeoff/landing distances shorten.
• B. Stall speed increases; takeoff/landing distances shorten.
• C. Stall speed increases; takeoff/landing distances lengthen.
• D. Stall speed decreases; takeoff/landing distances lengthen.

Answer: (C)

When gross weight is higher, wing loading (weight per wing area) increases. Because stall occurs when lift equals weight, and lift depends on dynamic pressure, increasing weight means you must fly faster to generate the same lift. So stall speed rises. For takeoff, reaching a higher speed is necessary to produce enough lift to become airborne, and the extra mass means you need more runway to accelerate to that speed, so takeoff distance grows. On landing, you arrive at a higher approach and landing speed to maintain sufficient lift and control with the heavier airplane, and braking and maneuvering a heavier aircraft require more runway, so landing distance also increases. Therefore, higher gross weight increases stall speed and lengthens takeoff and landing distances.