The ability to control flow enables a wide range of technical applications, from drag reduction with the potential to achieve significant reductions of CO2 emissions to the stabilization or destabilization of existing flow topologies. These approaches can be particularly beneficial in the air mobility sector, where manipulating the flow around air vehicles can enhance both environmental sustainability and economic efficiency. Passive flow control methods are widely used; however, while they perform efficiently and reliably at design points, they cannot adapt to changing flow conditions. Active flow control (AFC) devices may bridge this gap offering adaptability to specific flow applications while minimizing control efforts. In this mini-symposium, special attention is given to design strategies and flow analysis procedures aimed at identifying the best flow control device types, the best locations and, finally, the best operational modes of flow control devices tailored to specific flow applications. We are particularly interested in the theoretical, analytical, and numerical frameworks supporting these objectives, as well as the flow physics that govern the operation of specific AFC devices. The impact of AFC on associated flow phenomena and the change in topology of the targeted flow are also of interest. The aim of the mini-symposium is to bring together researchers, scientists and professional practitioners working in the field of AFC, with a focus on technologies that enable objectives such as reducing drag, increasing lift, or even improving flight control, among others. The exchange of ideas, new concepts and innovative approaches is desired. We invite contributions from all areas of analytical, experimental and computational fluid mechanics for AFC including reduced-order modelling, stability analysis and decomposition techniques and energy-based methods. Further topics (experimental, analytical, numerical and other related areas) may include AI-based or AI-supported AFC strategies, device design and operation.