Magnetic read/write head assembly configured with bleed slots passing through rails to stabilize flexible medium while attaining low fly heighs with respect thereto

A magnetic read/write head assembly for reading/writing data on a moving flexible medium and for stabilizing said flexible medium comprising:

• a slider;
• rails on said slider, each of said rails having a longitudinal length in the direction of movement of said medium and each of said rails having a width extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of said medium, each of said rails having an air bearing surface extending across the width and along the length thereof;
• an electromagnetic read/write element extending at least partially across the width of at least one of said rails at the trailing longitudinal end with respect to the direction of movement;
• a flexure connected to said slider for applying a load force to said rails;
• a slot passing through each of said rails between the ends thereof and extending transverse to the direction of movement, said slot providing an air bleed in each said air bearing surface of said rails, each said slot having a width extending between side walls thereof and extending in the direction of movement in the range between 0.005 inch and 0.012 inch, the width of each of said rails being in a range between 0.008 inch and 0.013 inch, the load force on said rails being in the range between 3 grams and 6 grams;
• and
• the air bleed capacity of each said slot, the width of each of said rails, and said load force stabilizing said flexible medium while maintaining a low fly height of said electromagnetic read/write element with respect to said flexible medium.