What is a characteristic of positive dihedral in aircraft wings?

Positive dihedral refers to the upward angle of an aircraft's wings relative to the horizontal plane. This design is a crucial element in enhancing lateral stability, which is the tendency of an aircraft to maintain its balance and orientation during flight. When an aircraft with positive dihedral experiences a roll to one side, the wing on that side is effectively lowered while the other is raised. This difference in angle causes more lift to be generated on the higher wing and less on the lower wing. Consequently, this creates a natural tendency for the aircraft to return to a level flight attitude, stabilizing it against disturbances such as turbulence or sudden maneuvers.

By incorporating positive dihedral into wing design, aircraft can enjoy smoother handling characteristics and improved control, especially during turns. This aspect of lateral stability is particularly important for maintaining the aircraft's desired flight path and ensuring safety during flight operations.