Posted for "Alain NOIREAUX" <alainoireaux@club-internet.fr>:

It is true that an aft CG is better for cruise and in big aircrafts,DC 10 or
B747,we ask to load the plane so as  to get the CG as aft as possible,but
not beyond the aft limit,to decrease the horizontal stab's drag,and dooing
so decrease the fuel burnt.In airliners we don't seek to increase the speed
as we cruise at a steady Mach number,but the position of the CG is of great
impact especially on long haul flights,to save a lot of fuel.
Alain NOIREAUX   former DC10 and B747 Captn