The rotational flow of a vortex can be used to keep airflow attached. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pSepqNHKA-c/maxresdefault.jpg The counter rotating vortices pull air towards them and create a low pressure laminar sheet of air, that entrains air ahead of the sheet to fill in the void. The counter rotating vortices move air like a twin screw vacuum pump. The counter rotating vortices effectively part the air, like Moses did the Red Sea. https://files.catbox.moe/n29pug.jpg Things are not so straight forward however, because the rotational flow of a vortex means the vortex is only good at creating laminar flow in a direction perpendicular to the rotational cone angle. A very narrow vortex cylinder will create a nearly lateral outwash, whereas a more cone shaped vortex will have a more longitudinal outwash. However it takes more energy to maintain a wider cone vortex than a narrow one, conversely it's easier to create several small vortices, but then you run the problem of vortex entanglement. As vortices merge and split, the lateral flow from the vortex is both perturbed and changes the laminar outwash angle.