Core assemblies for manufacturing airfoils and airfoils for gas turbine engines are described. The core assemblies include a tip flag cavity core having an upstream portion, a tapering portion, and a downstream portion, with the tapering portion located between the upstream portion and the downstream portion and the downstream portion defines an exit in a formed airfoil. The upstream portion has a first radial height H1, the downstream portion has a second radial height H2 that is less than the first radial height H1, the tapering portion transitions from the first radial height H1 at an upstream end to the second radial height H2 at a downstream end, and at least one metering pedestal aperture is located within the tapering portion.