A ducted fan for a VTOL vehicle includes a substantially cylindrical duct having an inlet at an upper end and an outlet at a lower end, and an air mover unit located within the substantially cylindrical duct. The duct also includes inner and outer wall portions and a substantially annular upper lip connecting the inner and outer wall portions, thus defining the inlet. The substantially annular upper lip has opposed fore and aft portions and opposed side portions and is provided with at least first and second openings, respectively, at each of the opposed side portions. The first and second arrays of openings permit flow of air into at least first and second respective chambers formed within the duct, the first and second chambers connected by at least one passageway to thereby enable substantial equalization of surface pressure at the opposed side portions of the substantially annular upper lip.