Abstract
This paper examined the probabilistic load analysis for the tailplane during pitching maneuvering in the conceptual aircraft design phase. The flight load analysis based on the probabilistic distribution of design variables are compared with the results of the deterministic analysis. Two forms of variable distribution are used in this paper. One is standard normal distribution, the other distribution is calculated from the results of short-period longitudinal equation of aircraft motion. The influence of the distribution parameter on the probabilistic load analysis was investigated and the significant design variables that have an impact on the mean and variance of probabilistic load were identified. The comparison indicates that probabilistic load analysis provides more reliable probabilistic load distribution for the structural design than the traditional deterministic analysis.