What can lead to a higher fuel capacity in the wings when gravity refueling?

The correct answer highlights a practice in fuel management related to aircraft design and operation. When conducting gravity refueling, the aft cabin being able to refill the aft fuselage tank contributes to a higher total fuel capacity. In aircraft design, fuel can be stored in various locations, including the wings and fuselage, to optimize weight distribution and balance. By allowing the aft cabin to refill the aft fuselage tank, the aircraft can utilize all available space for fuel more effectively, ensuring that every section of the aircraft that is designed to hold fuel is filled to capacity.

This method is particularly important in certain aircraft configurations where maximizing fuel load is crucial for mission capabilities, range, and operational flexibility. Therefore, the design and placement of fuel tanks can directly influence how much fuel can be taken onboard and where that fuel is stored.

Other factors such as tank design, fuel type, and system pressure do play roles in the overall fuel management strategy, but they do not specifically contribute to maximizing the capacity during gravity refueling as effectively as the ability to refill different tanks from the aft cabin.