Simultaneous modelling of aerodynamics, structure and flight dynamics is used to predict the gust loads on a model of 18-metre wingspan sailplane that includes bending flexibility. The ASWING software is used to analyse the time history of the wing-bending moment and the shear force at the wing root for the design gust speed and for the design maximum speed at different wavelengths of a ‘1-Cosine’ gust. Maximum values from the time history were compared with certification requirements for rigid sailplanes. The analysis revealed that wing-bending flexibility reduces the loads.
