An apparatus comprising: A flexible joint assembly for providing flexure to a rotor blade comprising: an upper hub plate and a lower hub plate configured to secure a rotor blade yoke via a bolted joint located radially outward of a mast; and an upper flexure assembly connected to the upper hub plate and a lower flexure assembly connected to the lower hub plate; and a rotor blade yoke coupled to the upper hub plate and the lower hub plate via the bolted joint; wherein the upper flexure assembly and lower flexure assembly are configured to promote flapping of the rotor blade yoke about a flapping hinge located radially outward of the bolted joint; and wherein at least one of the upper hub plate and the lower hub plate comprises a relief located between the bolted joint and the flapping hinge, wherein the relief does not contact the rotor blade yoke, the upper flexure assembly, or the lower flexure assembly; wherein the upper flexure assembly comprises a removable upper shoe comprising an upper arcuate surface and disposed between the rotor blade yoke and the upper hub plate, and the lower flexure assembly comprises a removable lower shoe comprising a lower arcuate surface and disposed between the rotor blade yoke and the lower hub plate, wherein both of the upper hub plate and the lower hub plate each comprise the relief, such that there is an upper relief located within the upper hub plate between the bolted joint and the upper arcuate surface, and a lower relief located within the lower hub plate between the bolted joint and the lower arcuate portion. A flexible joint assembly for providing flexure to a rotor blade comprising: an upper hub plate and a lower hub plate configured to secure a rotor blade yoke via a bolted joint located radially outward of a mast; and an upper flexure assembly connected to the upper hub plate and a an upper hub plate and a lower hub plate configured to secure a rotor blade yoke via a bolted joint located radially outward of a mast; and an upper flexure assembly connected to the upper hub plate and a lower flexure assembly connected to the lower hub plate; and a rotor blade yoke coupled to the upper hub plate and the lower hub plate via the bolted joint; wherein the upper flexure assembly and lower flexure assembly are configured to promote flapping of the rotor blade yoke about a flapping hinge located radially outward of the bolted joint; and wherein at least one of the upper hub plate and the lower hub plate comprises a relief located between the bolted joint and the flapping hinge, wherein the relief does not contact the rotor blade yoke, the upper flexure assembly, or the lower flexure assembly; wherein the upper flexure assembly comprises a removable upper shoe comprising an upper arcuate surface and disposed between the rotor blade yoke and the upper hub plate, and the lower flexure assembly comprises a removable lower shoe comprising a lower arcuate surface and disposed between the rotor blade yoke and the lower hub plate, wherein both of the upper hub plate and the lower hub plate each comprise the relief, such that there is an upper relief located within the upper hub plate between the bolted joint and the upper arcuate surface, and a lower relief located within the lower hub plate between the bolted joint and the lower arcuate portion.