Variable area nozzle assembly

A variable area nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine, comprises:

• a fixed structure surrounding an exhaust duct extending along a nozzle centerline, the fixed structure defining an exhaust duct outlet of the exhaust duct, the fixed structure including an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, the fixed structure further including a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side;
• a nozzle disposed about the nozzle centerline, the nozzle including a nozzle throat cross-sectional area and a nozzle outlet cross-sectional area downstream of the nozzle throat cross-sectional area, the nozzle including an upper panel pivotably mounted to the fixed structure at the upper side and a lower panel pivotably mounted to the fixed structure at the lower side, the upper panel including an upper downstream end and the lower panel including a lower downstream end, the upper downstream end and the lower downstream end defining a portion of the nozzle throat cross-sectional area;
• and
• a nozzle actuation system including an upper rotatable shaft connected to the upper panel and a lower rotatable shaft connected lower panel such that rotation of the upper rotatable shaft and the lower rotatable shaft is configured to control a cross-sectional area of the throat cross-sectional area by pivoting the upper panel and the lower panel, respectively, relative to the fixed structure, each of the upper rotatable shaft and the lower rotatable shaft extending laterally between and to a first lateral end and a second lateral end, the upper rotatable shaft positioned radially outside of and spaced from the upper panel with respect to the nozzle centerline and the lower rotatable shaft positioned radially outside of and spaced from the lower panel with respect to the nozzle centerline;
• wherein the nozzle actuation system includes an upper cam fixedly mounted to the upper rotatable shaft, nozzle actuation system further including an extension member extending radially between and connecting the upper cam and the upper panel.