Aerospace vehicle fairing systems and associated methods, including fairings that house flap surface drive mechanisms on aircraft, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a fairing system that includes a fairing mounted to an airfoil. The fairing can have a longitudinal axis and a fairing section extending along the longitudinal axis forward and aft of a trailing edge portion of an airfoil section. In one embodiment of the invention, the fairing section can have a wide portion located aft of the airfoil section with a single spanwise width that is greater than or equal to a spanwise width of any other portion of the fairing section. In another embodiment of the invention the fairing section can have a first side and a second side, each with a point of maximum curvature. At least one point of maximum curvature can be located aft of the airfoil section.