Since the beginning of aircraft design and certification, the loads and the loads-related requirements have continued to evolve, while initial conservative assumptions related to safety factors have remained essentially the same over the years. With the increased use of technologies such as Electronic Flight Control Systems (EFCS) and thrust vectoring systems, and the improved quantification of factors influencing the loads, the initial concept of safety factors needed to be re-visited. It was concluded in the Workshop that new criteria and methods should be investigated in order to propose standards for future aircraft design.

The information presented in this handbook is derived from airborne data recorded using oscillograph and magnetic tape systems collecting Loads Environment Spectra Survey Data on a multitude of USAF aircraft. The data is broken down into three main categories: Cargo Class, Fighter/Attack Class, and Trainer class. Special information included in the handbook are Ground Data from the C-141 and Aerial Refueling from the C-5. The data is broken down by aircraft, mission, and mission phase. Plots are provided and show comparisons of different aircraft models. The tables presented express NZ (normal load factor) in exceedances per 1000 flight hours and ground data in exceedances per 1000 flights.

This important text covers all aspects of structural loads analysis and provides some continuity between what was done on earlier airplane designs and what the current applications of the present regulations require.