Gas turbine engine with variable airflow inlet

A gas turbine engine disposed within a nacelle, comprising:

• an open rotor propulsion system;
• a compressor section;
• a combustion section;
• a turbine section;
• an annular airflow inlet in fluid communication with the compressor section, the airflow inlet defined by an inner radial surface and a plurality of inlet panel structures, wherein each inlet panel structure includes an inlet side segment and an outer panel segment, wherein the inlet side segments collectively define an outer radial surface of the airflow inlet;
• wherein the inlet side segment and the outer panel segment of each inlet panel structure intersect at an inlet panel leading edge;
• and
• wherein the plurality of inlet panel structures are disposable in a radial inner most configuration and in a radial outer most configuration, wherein in the radial inner most configuration, the inlet panel leading edges are disposed a first distance from the inner radial surface, and wherein in the radial outer most configuration, the inlet panel leading edges are disposed a second distance from the inner radial surface, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance;
• wherein adjacent said inlet panel structures of the plurality of inlet panel structures overlap with one another, the plurality of inlet structures comprising a central inlet panel structure, a first lateral inlet panel structure disposed on a first lateral side of the central inlet panel structure, and a second lateral inlet panel structure disposed on a second lateral side of the central inlet panel structure opposite the first lateral side, and the central inlet panel structure overlapping the first lateral inlet panel structure and the second inlet panel structure;
• and
• an inlet panel structure actuation system configured to selectively actuate the plurality of inlet panel structures between the radial inner most configuration, by increasing the overlap of the adjacent said inlet panel structures of the plurality of inlet panel structures, and the radial outer most configuration, by decreasing the overlap of the adjacent said inlet panel structures of the plurality of inlet panel structures.