A vertical stabilizer (38) is supported by and projects upwardly and
rearwardly from the tail portion (14) of a helicopter fuselage (12). A
tail rotor (TSR) is mounted on the vertical stabilizer (38) for rotation
about a horizontal axis (C). The tail rotor (TSR) is positioned laterally
outwardly from one side of the vertical stabilizer (38). The vertical
stabilizer (38) has an upper end, a lower end and a rear edge recess (44)
located between the upper end and the lower end. The recess (44) has a
laterally convex rear edge (50). The tail portion (14) of fuselage (12)
has a rear end extension (40) that extends rearwardly from the vertical
stabilizer (38) and narrows in width as it extends rearwardly. The rear
end extension (40) of the fuselage (12) provides vertical area to replace
vertical area that was removed by placement of the recess (44) in the
vertical stabilizer (38). A corner (82) is formed where the rear edge of
the vertical stabilizer (50) meets the upper edge (80) of the rear end
extension (40) of the fuselage (12). The corner (82) is laterally convex
and vertically concave. The upper end of the vertical stabilizer (38) is
wider than the vertical stabilizer is in the region of the rear edge
recess (44). The upper end of the vertical stabilizer (38) forms a corner
(84) with the rear edge recess (44). This corner (84) is laterally convex
and vertically concave. The rear end extension (40) of the tail portion
(14) of the fuselage (12) has a forward portion including sides that are
convex in the vertical direction and a rear end portion that is
substantially straight in the vertical direction. The rear end extension
(40) of the tail section (14) of the fuselage (12) is both laterally and
longitudinally convex.