Which feature aids in the stability of a Cessna 172?

The stability of a Cessna 172 is significantly enhanced by its dihedral wings. Dihedral wings are designed with an upward angle relative to the horizontal plane. This wing configuration contributes to the aircraft's lateral stability, which is the ability of the airplane to resist rolling motions caused by external factors like turbulence or wind gusts.

When the aircraft begins to roll to one side due to a disturbance, the dihedral angle causes the wing that is lower (the wing that is going down) to generate more lift in comparison to the opposing wing. This additional lift on the lower wing acts to right the aircraft back to level flight, thereby enhancing its stability.

In contrast, features like negative stability design, which is typically found in certain performance-oriented aircraft, could lead to less stability. A canard configuration, common on some aircraft designs, typically alters the stability characteristics, and forward CG placement can impact handling but is primarily a design and performance consideration rather than a direct stability feature like dihedral wings.