Vertical takeoff and landing aircraft

A method for operating a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the aircraft comprising a fuselage, a wing extending from the fuselage, and a propulsion system having a vertical thrust electric fan arranged along the wing, the method comprising:

• activating the vertical thrust electric fan arranged along the wing;
• moving a variable geometry assembly from a forward thrust position to a vertical thrust position;
• and
• defusing an airflow from the vertical thrust electric fan through a diffusion assembly, the diffusion assembly defining a plurality of inlets between diffusion members and a plurality of outlets located downstream of the respective plurality of inlets between the diffusion members, wherein the diffusion members maintain a common position when the variable geometry assembly is moved between the vertical thrust position and the forward thrust position, wherein a cross section of at least one diffusion member converges in width from a base proximate to the plurality of inlets to an apex proximate to the plurality of outlets.