Which characteristic best describes an aircraft with an aft center of gravity?

An aircraft with an aft center of gravity has a tendency to be less stable in flight, which can significantly affect its handling characteristics. One of the critical issues associated with an aft CG is the increased difficulty in stall and spin recovery.

When the center of gravity moves towards the tail, the aircraft’s pitch stability can be compromised. The control surfaces may not have the same effectiveness, and the aircraft may become more prone to entering a stall. Recovering from a stall is generally more complicated because the aircraft may not respond as positively to control inputs, making it harder to regain controlled flight. Additionally, the increased risk of getting into a spin is prevalent since the aircraft may not have sufficient authority to recover due to the altered dynamics.

In terms of stability, having the CG too far aft reduces the aircraft's ability to dampen pitch oscillations, leading to a more 'twitchy' handling characteristic, which is not conducive to safe flight operations. Thus, the characteristic that best describes an aircraft with an aft center of gravity is indeed the increased difficulty in stall and spin recovery.