The meaning of Spiral Instability
Spiral instability refers to a state in which the directional stability of an airplane is stronger than the effect of its dihedral in maintaining lateral equilibrium. This condition can occur during flight when the aircraft is subjected to various external forces, such as changes in wind direction or turbulence. When an airplane experiences spiral instability, it can become difficult to control its flight path, which can result in a dangerous situation for the pilot and passengers. The root cause of this instability lies in the design of the aircraft and the way it responds to changes in angle of attack. In order to prevent spiral instability, designers must carefully consider the balance of directional stability and dihedral effect when creating new airplane models.
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