A helicopter tail boom for reducing adverse loads during a range of predefined flight conditions, the tail boom having a length, a first end and a second end, wherein the boom is mounted between a helicopter fuselage at the first boom end and a tail at the second boom end, said tail further comprising a yaw control apparatus, the boom comprising:
- A. an exterior surface;
- B. a high pressure vent positioned substantially longitudinally along the length of the boom at least near a high air pressure area acting on the exterior surface during said range of predefined flight conditions;
- C. a low pressure vent positioned substantially longitudinally along the length of the tail boom at least near a low air pressure area acting on the exterior surface during said range of predefined flight conditions;
- and
- D. an air passage between said high pressure vent and said low pressure vent allowing air to flow therebetween, so that air can pass through the boom from said high pressure area to said low pressure area to cause a reduction of adverse loads on the tail boom.