What are these things?

Question

http://www.airliners.net/photo/American-Airlines/Boeing-737-823/1357472/L/

above the stabalizer. kinda like metal rods.

Answer 1

If you mean the four rods (two on top of stab, two on top-rear of rudder), they are static dischargers, designed as the name implies, to discharge static electricity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_disc...

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/des...

http://www.tpub.com/air/2-29.htm

Answer 2

Those are static wicks.  They help dissipate electrical charges that build up on the airframe.

Answer 3

If you are talking about the metal object on the second A on the tail, it is an Alpha vane. (for measuring angle of attack)

The 'rod' half-way through the panel of the ruder is an hydraulic actuator.

The small aerial- like things at the very top are static dischargers.

The little white-painted parts directly above the stabilizer are, I believe, vortex generators.

I can't see anything else that looks like metal rods...

Answer 4

4 rods on top are static wicks, the thing above the red A is a Glide Slope antenna and the pitot tube thing is a Q-limiter for the rudder movement (rudder is restricted as airspeed goes up to limit torque on the aft fuselage).

Answer 5

Those are Vortex generators. They re energize the airflow at the rear of the aricraft, reducing drag.

Answer 6

hmm yea     static dischargers

Answer 7

Carbon wick static dissipators as said above.

Glideslope antenna? Hmmmm, I'm thinking not, for many reasons.

Answer 8

Those wire like things are static wicks, they discharge static electricity that builds up on the aircraft body and also helps not to get struck by lightning.