Gust Load Factors vary depending on altitude, mass/weight,speed and the slope of the CL-alpha curve.

With increasing altitude and increasing mass/weight the gust load factor will decrease. Wing loading is the ratio of all-up weight/wing area, so like mass/weight this will also result in a reduced gust load factor.

Conversely if speed is increased then the effect of an upgust will be more severe and lead to an increased gust load factor. The slope of a Cl-alpha curve also has a direct bearing on the gust load factor. For example a wing of high aspect ratio (straight wing) compared to a wing of low aspect ratio (sweptback wing) will have a higher gradient. A small increase in alpha will therefore have more effect on the straight wing than the sweptback wing and will result in an increased gust load factor.