Calculations of the aerodynamic loads on wings in atmospheric gusts are an essential part of aircraft design for three main reasons. Firstly, an estimate of the gust loads which the aircraft must withstand is an important element of the structural design calculations in terms of ensuring both static load bearing capability and an adequate fatigue life. Secondly, the calculated gust loads provide the input to a suitable mathematical model of the aircraft structure in order to arrive at an assessment of aircraft accelerations and ride behaviour in expected levels of atmospheric turbulence. This is particularly significant for high speed military aircraft operating at low altitudes. Thirdly, aerodynamic loads due to gusts can be viewed as perturbing influences to aircraft stability so that the performance of an active control, gust alleviation or ride control system has to be considered with a detailed knowledge of the time variance of aerodynamic gust loads in mind.