Dihedral (aircraft) - History

History

In geometry, dihedral angle is the angle between two planes. Aviation usage differs slightly from usage in geometry. In aviation, the usage "dihedral" evolved to mean the positive, up angle between the left and right wings. While usage with the prefix "an-" (as in "anhedral") evolved to mean the negative, down angle between the wings.

The aerodynamic stabilizing qualities of dihedral angle were first described by Sir George Cayley in 1808–1809.

Read more about this topic:  Dihedral (aircraft)

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    No matter how vital experience might be while you lived it, no sooner was it ended and dead than it became as lifeless as the piles of dry dust in a school history book.
    Ellen Glasgow (1874–1945)

    Indeed, the Englishman’s history of New England commences only when it ceases to be New France.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    If you look at history you’ll find that no state has been so plagued by its rulers as when power has fallen into the hands of some dabbler in philosophy or literary addict.
    Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)