Abstract: One of the main developing tendencies for powerless hypersonic vehicle flight modes is from drag dominated ballistic reentry to lift dominated maneuvering reentry. Practices of aerodynamic configuration design for non-ballistic trajectory vehicles were summarized, Design principles under the restraints of mission task, propulsion model and overall sizing were discussed. Relationships among vehicle aerodynamic efficiency and lift parameter, lofting curve, cross section shape, volumetric efficiency, subsection loading space were investigated. Maneuvering mechanisms for pull up/push down, gliding, skip-gliding and space tactical movements, including Z-form, spiral and conic maneuver, were studied and simulated. Corresponding aerodynamic control surface matching, mass center location, pressure center and stability were designed. Concept of aerothermodynamics configuration design and optimization for up to date highly coupled multidisciplinary compromise relating to overall sizing, aerodynamic, thermal protection, trajectory and control were proposed.