✈️ Planes
✈️ Dihedral
The upward angle of the wings from root to tip, which adds passive roll stability — common on trainers and gentle flyers.
What it actually does
Dihedral is the upward V-angle of the wings seen from the front, and it makes an aircraft want to roll back to level on its own. It is why a trainer with plenty of dihedral can be flown on rudder and elevator alone, and why it recovers if you let go.
In practice
More dihedral means more self-righting stability and less roll agility. Trainers and gliders use plenty; aerobatic aircraft use little or none because they need to hold whatever attitude the pilot chose.
Worth knowing
Dihedral is set by the airframe and is not something to change casually — it interacts with wing incidence and tail volume. On a repair, restoring the original angle matters.