Airplane design incorporates load factors in which three categories?

Airplane design incorporates load factors in the categories of normal, utility, and aerobatic to ensure that aircraft can safely handle the forces experienced during a variety of maneuvers and operational conditions.

The normal category is designed for typical flight operations, which include basic maneuvers and moderate turbulence, accommodating a standard load factor usually up to 3.8 g's positive and 1.5 g's negative. The utility category encompasses a wider range of maneuvers beyond basic flight, allowing for moderate aerobatic maneuvers and higher load factors, typically up to 4.4 g's positive. The aerobatic category is specifically designed for aircraft that perform complex aerobatic maneuvers, allowing for even greater loads, often exceeding 6 g's.

Understanding these categories is crucial for pilots as they need to select an aircraft that can handle the specific flight profiles they intend to perform, ensuring safety and structural integrity under various conditions.