Gas turbine engine stationary vane with contoured platform

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a first stationary vane including an inner rail having an inlet face, a suction side face, a pressure side face, and a platform, a vane portion extending along a radial line from the platform and defining one of a first stagger angle and a second stagger angle with respect to a central axis;
• and
• a second stationary vane identical to the first stationary blade, the suction side face of the second stationary vane positioned in contact with the pressure side face of the first stationary vane to define a first throat area when the first stationary vane and the second stationary vane are oriented at the first stagger angle, and defining a second throat area when the first stationary vane and the second stationary vane are oriented at the second stagger angle, the inlet face of the first stationary vane cooperating with the inlet face of the second stationary vane to define a continuous annular surface and the platform of the first stationary vane cooperating with the platform of the second stationary vane to define a continuous curvilinear surface when the first stationary vane and the second stationary vane are oriented at the first stagger angle, and the platform of the first stationary vane cooperating with the platform of the second stationary vane to define a stepped surface when the first stationary vane and the second stationary vane are oriented at the second stagger angle.

A method of setting the throat area of a row of stationary vanes for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

• forming each stationary vane of the row of stationary vanes to include an inner rail having an inlet face, a suction side face, a pressure side face, and a platform, a vane portion extending along a radial line from the platform and defining a first stagger angle and an outer rail including a bolt face;
• adjusting a plane of the bolt face of each of the stationary vanes to define a second stagger angle;
• and
• positioning the suction side face of each stationary vane in contact with the pressure side face of an adjacent stationary vane, wherein the inlet face of each of the stationary vanes cooperate to define a continuous annular surface, the platform of each of the stationary vanes cooperate to define a continuous curvilinear surface, and the vane portion of each of the stationary vanes cooperate to define a first throat area when the stationary vanes are not adjusted, and wherein the platform of each of the stationary vanes cooperate to define a stepped surface, and the vane portion of each of the stationary vanes cooperate to define a second throat area when the stationary vanes are adjusted.