Abstract: A method is disclosed for directing flow to a combustor embedded in a recuperator while shielding the recuperator from radiative heat transfer from the combustor. The radiation heat shield also serves as a structural component to center the combustor within the recuperator core cavity and to allow motion between the combustor and recuperator as temperatures vary. The disclosure is illustrated by the example a gas turbine engine comprising three turbomachinery spools, an intercooler, a recuperator and a combustor. Thermal efficiency of such an engine can be increased by raising the high pressure turbine inlet temperature. It is a specific goal of the present disclosure to reduce radiative heating of a recuperator by a combustor which is housed substantially inside the recuperator.