What Does Dihedral Do?

Dihedral is the upward angle of an aircraft's wings, which increases lateral stability in a bank by causing the lower wing to fly at a higher angle of attack than the higher wing. What it really means is that you can fly more hands off, even in turbulence.

How does dihedral affect lift?

A: Whether a plane has dihedral (at an upward angle) or anhedral (at a downward angle) wings they seek to maintain the plane's stability when the plane rolls. ... If a plane has more dihedral, its stability will increase, but lift will decrease and drag will increase.

Why is the dihedral important?

The purpose of dihedral effect is to contribute to stability in the roll axis. It is an important factor in the stability of the spiral mode which is sometimes called "roll stability".

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Maya Lin-Takahashi

Consumer Tech & Gadget Reviewer

Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.