SummaryAn economical numerical method has been developed to calculate unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft configurations, undergoing small amplitude simple harmonic motion in various laterally symmetric modes of oscillation, in inviscid incompressible flow, by taking advantage of the computational efficiency of internal distribution of singularities. The only approximation introduced in the method is the linearisation of the problem with respect to the amplitude of oscillation. A number of comparisons have been made to demonstrate the effects of different aircraft components on wing or tail pressure, and lift distributions.