What is the impact of an overloaded aircraft on its performance?

An overloaded aircraft directly affects its performance in several ways. When an aircraft is overloaded, it typically experiences a decreased climb rate and increased drag.

The decrease in climb rate occurs because the excess weight requires more lift from the wings to maintain altitude and achieve a climb. However, the aircraft's engines may not have enough power to generate the necessary lift to climb efficiently, resulting in a reduced ability to ascend.

In addition, the added weight increases the drag experienced by the aircraft. Drag is a resistance force that opposes the forward motion of the aircraft, which means that with increased weight, the aircraft must work harder to overcome this drag. This not only affects the climb performance but can also lead to higher fuel consumption and reduced overall efficiency during flight.

The other choices suggest various forms of performance enhancement that do not align with the implications of an overloaded state. An overloaded aircraft cannot benefit from increased ceiling and range, improved stability, or higher fuel efficiency, as these factors are inversely related to the increase in weight and the adverse effects it imposes on performance.