Aerospace vehicle fairing systems and associated methods, including fairings that house flap surface drive mechanisms on aircraft, are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with one embodiment, for example, can include adjusting lift distribution across an airfoil. The airfoil includes a first inboard portion and a second outboard portion. The method can include locating a point of maximum curvature of a first fairing at least approximately forward of a trailing edge of the airfoil proximate to the first inboard portion. The method can also include locating a point of maximum curvature of a second fairing at least approximately aft of a trailing edge of the airfoil proximate to the second outboard portion. The locations of the points of maximum curvature for the first and second fairings are based, at least in part, on a target lift distribution.