What is the purpose of dihedral in aircraft design?

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The purpose of dihedral in aircraft design is primarily to provide lateral stability. Dihedral is the upward angle between the wings and the horizontal plane of the aircraft. When an aircraft with dihedral wings experiences a roll due to turbulence or other disturbances, the dihedral design helps to restore the aircraft to level flight.

This occurs because when one wing drops, the higher wing generates more lift, which promotes a rolling motion back toward level flight. This self-correcting mechanism enhances the aircraft's stability in the lateral axis, helping to keep the wings level during flight.

While stabilizing the aircraft in pitch is important for overall control, that function is primarily managed by the horizontal stabilizer and the elevator. Increasing drag during landing is generally not an intentional design feature associated with dihedral; rather, pilots aim to manage drag to optimize landing performance. Enhancing aerodynamic efficiency is typically more related to wing shape and design features than specifically to dihedral angle.

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