A vertical stabilizer (38) is supported by and projects upwardly and rearwardly from the tail portion (14) of a helicopter fuselage (12). A tail rotor (TSR) is mounted on the vertical stabilizer (38) for rotation about a horizontal axis (C). The tail rotor (TSR) is positioned laterally outwardly from one side of the vertical stabilizer (38). The vertical stabilizer (38) has an upper end, a lower end and a rear edge recess (44) located between the upper end and the lower end. The recess (44) has a laterally convex rear edge (50). The tail portion (14) of fuselage (12) has a rear end extension (40) that extends rearwardly from the vertical stabilizer (38) and narrows in width as it extends rearwardly. The rear end extension (40) of the fuselage (12) provides vertical area to replace vertical area that was removed by placement of the recess (44) in the vertical stabilizer (38). A corner (82) is formed where the rear edge of the vertical stabilizer (50) meets the upper edge (80) of the rear end extension (40) of the fuselage (12). The corner (82) is laterally convex and vertically concave. The upper end of the vertical stabilizer (38) is wider than the vertical stabilizer is in the region of the rear edge recess (44). The upper end of the vertical stabilizer (38) forms a corner (84) with the rear edge recess (44). This corner (84) is laterally convex and vertically concave. The rear end extension (40) of the tail portion (14) of the fuselage (12) has a forward portion including sides that are convex in the vertical direction and a rear end portion that is substantially straight in the vertical direction. The rear end extension (40) of the tail section (14) of the fuselage (12) is both laterally and longitudinally convex.