A slider for a disk drive is disclosed. In one embodiment, the slider includes an air bearing pad that contains a read/write transducer. This particular air bearing pad is small. High pressures are exerted on this small air bearing pad while the slider is flying in vertically spaced to its corresponding data storage disk. Pressures in excess of 500 psi may exist on this air bearing pad. In any case, this air bearing pad provides a significant portion of the total lifting forces for flying the slider in vertically spaced relation to its corresponding data storage disk or the like. As such, any expansion of the air bearing pad toward the data storage disk during read/write operations does not result in any significant loss of fly height.