An adaptive ramp mechanism for an aircraft having a fuselage which includes a fuselage skin, an interior cavity, a forward end and an aft end, and at least one door attached to the fuselage and moveable between an open position exposing the interior cavity and a closed position enclosing the interior cavity. The ramp mechanism comprises a ramp structure which is attached to the fuselage between the forward end and the interior cavity thereof. The ramp structure is movable between an undeployed position whereat it is substantially continuous with the fuselage skin such that when the door is in the closed position, a free stream of air flowing along the fuselage is attached to the fuselage skin and the door, and undeployed position whereat at least a portion thereof extends angularly relative to the fuselage skin such that when the door is in the open position, the free stream of air is deflected over the interior cavity and reattaches to the fuselage skin between the interior cavity and the aft end of the fuselage.