https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=74.244.163.142 2026-05-20T03:40:56Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3241:_Horizontal_Stabilizers&diff=411759 2026-05-05T20:59:20Z

<p>74.244.163.142: Add category</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3241<br /> | date = May 5, 2026<br /> | title = Horizontal Stabilizers<br /> | image = horizontal_stabilizers_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 436x341px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = It started as a mistake that everyone was afraid to admit to, and then it stuck because removing it 'looks silly.'.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This page was created HORIZONTALLY. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> <br /> The {{w|Stabilizer (aircraft)#Horizontal_stabilizers|horizonal stabilizer}} is a part of the tailplane which provides extra stability and control to the airplane.<br /> <br /> This comic jokes that horizontal stabilizers, which are important (but not necessary, there are some aircraft that do not have tailplanes) are an accident and not entirely necessary. The original construction only had a tailplane with its 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.<br /> <br /> The title text takes this even further, because it states that people ignored this new part on airplanes that are unnecessary, a while later, when they decided to remove them (presumably to save weight) they noticed that the plane 'looked weird' and put them back on because it became normal to have them on planes. There are some {{w|tailless aircraft}}, and many people do consider them unusual looking.{{cn}}<br /> <br /> Some aircraft, including the original {{w|Wright Flyer}}, have the horizontal stabilizers in the front rather than the tail section.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> <br /> :[Cueball and Ponytail are standing in a field, looking at an airplane in the sky. Cueball is pointing at the airplane.]<br /> :Cueball: What's with the little wings on the tails of the airplanes? Do they really need them?<br /> :Ponytail: They're horizontal stabilizers. They serve a crucial aerodynamic role.<br /> <br /> :[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.]<br /> :Hairy: These wings you made are way too small! The plane is supposed to be much bigger!<br /> :Cueball: Sorry! We'll start over.<br /> :Hairy: No, there's no time. Just make it longer and put the bigger wings on the new section.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> [[Category:Aviation]]</div>

74.244.163.142