What component connects the fuselage and supports the vertical and horizontal stabilizers?

The component that connects the fuselage and supports the vertical and horizontal stabilizers is known as the tail assembly or empennage. This structure is crucial for the stability and control of the aircraft. It typically includes the vertical stabilizer, which provides directional stability, and the horizontal stabilizer, which helps to maintain longitudinal stability. By securing these critical components to the fuselage, the empennage plays a vital role in ensuring that the aircraft is balanced and can maintain its intended flight path.

While wings are essential aerodynamics and lift generation, they do not serve to support the tail structure directly. Lifting surfaces refer more broadly to elements that generate lift, including wings and control surfaces but do not specifically connect the fuselage to the stabilizers. Landing gear, meanwhile, is designed for takeoff, landing, and ground maneuvering, not for supporting stabilizers. Thus, the tail assembly or empennage is the correct answer as it specifically relates to the connection and support of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.