explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

3241: Horizontal Stabilizers

2026-05-05T21:48:37Z

165.1.131.84: /* Transcript */ add

{{comic
| number = 3241
| date = May 5, 2026
| title = Horizontal Stabilizers
| image = horizontal_stabilizers_2x.png
| imagesize = 436x341px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = It started as a mistake that everyone was afraid to admit to, and then it stuck because removing it 'looks silly.'.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created HORIZONTALLY. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The {{w|Stabilizer (aircraft)#Horizontal_stabilizers|horizonal stabilizer}}, which is a part of the {{w|tailplane}}, is part of the aircraft which typically provides extra longitudinal balance to the airplane, with the tailplane maintaining balance and control of the aircraft. Although some alternate types of airframe work without them, e.g. making use of more complex main wing control surfaces, most (and the most common) aircraft use {{w|Tailplane#Tailplane types|some version or other}} of tailplane.

This comic jokes that horizontal stabilizers are an accident of design, and not at all necessary. The original construction of some particular plane only had a small wings, but this wasn't big enough to be useful. Rather than rebuild from scratch, they just added the rest of the fuselage with its full-sized wings and continued to use the original insufficient fuselage and 'wings' in the manner of a tailplane.

The title text takes this even further, because it states that people deliberately ignored that this new part on airplanes was not necessary. And later, whenever they decided to remove the feature (perhaps to save weight, or just 'complexity') they noticed that the plane "looked weird" and so put them back on only because it was expected. There are some {{w|tailless aircraft}}, and many people do consider them unusual looking.{{cn}}

Some aircraft, including the original {{w|Wright Flyer}}, have the horizontal stabilizers in the front rather than the tail section.

==Trivia==
*This is a rare [[:Category:Tuesday comics|Tuesday comic]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

:[Cueball and Ponytail are standing, looking up at an airplane in the sky. Cueball is pointing at the airplane.]
:Cueball: What's with the little wings on the tails of the airplanes? Do they really need them?
:Ponytail: They're horizontal stabilizers. They serve a crucial aerodynamic role.

:[Hairy, Cueball, and Megan are standing in a room, with Hairy on the left of a small fuselage segment with small wings attached to the sides of it, while Cueball and Megan are standing on the right of it. Hairy has his arms raised. There is a box at the top of the panel with text.]
:Top Box: "Previously, at the airplane factory:"
:Hairy: These wings you made are way too small! The plane is supposed to be much bigger!
:Cueball: Sorry! We'll start over.
:Hairy: No, there's no time. Just make it longer and put the bigger wings on the new section.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

3241: Horizontal Stabilizers

2026-05-05T21:46:54Z

165.1.131.84: /* Transcript */ no field

{{comic
| number = 3241
| date = May 5, 2026
| title = Horizontal Stabilizers
| image = horizontal_stabilizers_2x.png
| imagesize = 436x341px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = It started as a mistake that everyone was afraid to admit to, and then it stuck because removing it 'looks silly.'.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created HORIZONTALLY. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The {{w|Stabilizer (aircraft)#Horizontal_stabilizers|horizonal stabilizer}}, which is a part of the {{w|tailplane}}, is part of the aircraft which typically provides extra longitudinal balance to the airplane, with the tailplane maintaining balance and control of the aircraft. Although some alternate types of airframe work without them, e.g. making use of more complex main wing control surfaces, most (and the most common) aircraft use {{w|Tailplane#Tailplane types|some version or other}} of tailplane.

This comic jokes that horizontal stabilizers are an accident of design, and not at all necessary. The original construction of some particular plane only had a small wings, but this wasn't big enough to be useful. Rather than rebuild from scratch, they just added the rest of the fuselage with its full-sized wings and continued to use the original insufficient fuselage and 'wings' in the manner of a tailplane.

The title text takes this even further, because it states that people deliberately ignored that this new part on airplanes was not necessary. And later, whenever they decided to remove the feature (perhaps to save weight, or just 'complexity') they noticed that the plane "looked weird" and so put them back on only because it was expected. There are some {{w|tailless aircraft}}, and many people do consider them unusual looking.{{cn}}

Some aircraft, including the original {{w|Wright Flyer}}, have the horizontal stabilizers in the front rather than the tail section.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

:[Cueball and Ponytail are standing, looking up at an airplane in the sky. Cueball is pointing at the airplane.]
:Cueball: What's with the little wings on the tails of the airplanes? Do they really need them?
:Ponytail: They're horizontal stabilizers. They serve a crucial aerodynamic role.

:[Hairy, Cueball, and Megan are standing in a room, with Hairy on the left of a small fuselage segment with small wings attached to the sides of it, while Cueball and Megan are standing on the right of it. Hairy has his arms raised. There is a box at the top of the panel with text.]
:Top Box: "Previously, at the airplane factory:"
:Hairy: These wings you made are way too small! The plane is supposed to be much bigger!
:Cueball: Sorry! We'll start over.
:Hairy: No, there's no time. Just make it longer and put the bigger wings on the new section.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]

3241: Horizontal Stabilizers

2026-05-05T21:46:29Z

165.1.131.84: /* Transcript */ cats

{{comic
| number = 3241
| date = May 5, 2026
| title = Horizontal Stabilizers
| image = horizontal_stabilizers_2x.png
| imagesize = 436x341px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = It started as a mistake that everyone was afraid to admit to, and then it stuck because removing it 'looks silly.'.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created HORIZONTALLY. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

The {{w|Stabilizer (aircraft)#Horizontal_stabilizers|horizonal stabilizer}}, which is a part of the {{w|tailplane}}, is part of the aircraft which typically provides extra longitudinal balance to the airplane, with the tailplane maintaining balance and control of the aircraft. Although some alternate types of airframe work without them, e.g. making use of more complex main wing control surfaces, most (and the most common) aircraft use {{w|Tailplane#Tailplane types|some version or other}} of tailplane.

This comic jokes that horizontal stabilizers are an accident of design, and not at all necessary. The original construction of some particular plane only had a small wings, but this wasn't big enough to be useful. Rather than rebuild from scratch, they just added the rest of the fuselage with its full-sized wings and continued to use the original insufficient fuselage and 'wings' in the manner of a tailplane.

The title text takes this even further, because it states that people deliberately ignored that this new part on airplanes was not necessary. And later, whenever they decided to remove the feature (perhaps to save weight, or just 'complexity') they noticed that the plane "looked weird" and so put them back on only because it was expected. There are some {{w|tailless aircraft}}, and many people do consider them unusual looking.{{cn}}

Some aircraft, including the original {{w|Wright Flyer}}, have the horizontal stabilizers in the front rather than the tail section.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

:[Cueball and Ponytail are standing in a field, looking at an airplane in the sky. Cueball is pointing at the airplane.]
:Cueball: What's with the little wings on the tails of the airplanes? Do they really need them?
:Ponytail: They're horizontal stabilizers. They serve a crucial aerodynamic role.

:[Hairy, Cueball, and Megan are standing in a room, with Hairy on the left of a small fuselage segment with small wings attached to the sides of it, while Cueball and Megan are standing on the right of it. Hairy has his arms raised. There is a box at the top of the panel with text.]
:Top Box: "Previously, at the airplane factory:"
:Hairy: These wings you made are way too small! The plane is supposed to be much bigger!
:Cueball: Sorry! We'll start over.
:Hairy: No, there's no time. Just make it longer and put the bigger wings on the new section.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]