G-Meters / Aircraft Limits

[AirBaker]

After flying in a plane with a g-meter today, it got me thinking as we hit a few bumps. When an aircraft is 'certified' to a negative number of Gs, (lets say -3 for this argument), is that -3 absolute Gs or relative. Since 1g is normal, would the meter read -2 or -3 if you reached its limit?

 

[Greg Bockelman]

-3. Zero is the baseline.

 

[gismo]

-3. Zero is the baseline.

IOW the answer to your question is that it's absolute. I think you'll find that most certified non aerobatic airplanes have lower limits on the negative side for that reason.