What is the name of the component that serves as a strip to which the skin of an airplane is attached?

The component that serves as a strip to which the skin of an airplane is attached is known as a stringer. Stringers are long, thin supports that run along the length of the aircraft’s fuselage and provide structural integrity by helping to distribute loads and maintain the shape of the aircraft's skin. They are crucial for the overall strength of the structure, allowing it to withstand various aerodynamic forces during flight.

In aircraft construction, stringers work in conjunction with the skin to ensure that the aircraft can handle stresses such as bending and torsional loads. This relationship is critical for maintaining the aerodynamics and structural stability of the aircraft.

While other terms like rib, fuselage, and frame are important in aircraft structure, they refer to different components. Ribs are used in wing structures to provide shape and support to the wings. The fuselage refers to the main body of the aircraft that houses the cockpit, passengers, and cargo. Frames are cross-sectional structural members that add rigidity to the fuselage. Hence, the stringer plays a unique and vital role as the attachment point for the skin, making it the correct answer in this context.