The system for inertial particle separation removes particulate matter, such as sand, from an air stream, such as that drawn into a turbine engine. The system includes first and second walls spaced apart and positioned within a housing of the turbine engine. The first wall is in the form of an airfoil with variable geometry. An annular air flow path is defined between the first and second walls. The air flow path leads inwardly from an ambient inlet and turns to an outlet. A splitter member is positioned between the first and second walls. A scavenge flow path is defined between the splitter member and the first wall. An inlet thereof is in communication with the ambient inlet, and a filtered flow path is defined between the splitter member and the second wall. The splitter member is also in the form of an airfoil having a variable geometry.