Abstract: An airfoil for transonic speeds includes a porous top surface extending from a location about 50 to 60% of the chord length from a leading edge of the airfoil to a location about 80 to 90% of the chord length from the leading edge. A cavity is defined under the porous surface in the airfoil which has a depth of from 0.05 to 0.2% of the chord length. The porosity of the porous surface is chosen to be from 1 to 3% of the total airfoil surface and may be variable. The presence of the porous surface and cavity decrease airfoil drag at transonic speeds by providing a pathway between a high pressure area downstream of a shock wave formed on the airfoil at transonic speeds to a low pressure area within a bubble on the airfoil upstream of the shock wave.