Abstract: A method controls the stroke of three circumferentially spaced apart actuators attached at respective joints to an actuation ring positionable to vector thrust in a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle. The circumferential angular location of each of the actuator joints is specified. And, the stroke for each of the actuators is independently calculated using the joint locations in response to pitch and yaw commands. The actuators are then operated to effect the respective strokes therefor to position the nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the angular locations are specified once, and trigonometric functions thereof are calculated and stored in memory. The stored values may then be used subsequently in calculating stroke as the pitch and yaw commands change.

Abstract: A method and system are used to calibrate a plurality of actuators joined to an actuation ring in a control system for vectoring exhaust flaps in a vectoring nozzle. The actuators include output rods which are positioned to respective first positions at which output stroke is measured. The actuators are repositioned to different second positions, and the output stroke thereof is again measured. The stroke measurement for each of the actuators is calibrated to effect a common linear response between the first and second measurement positions. The calibrated actuators ensure coordinated linear actuation thereof as the output rods are positioned between their minimum and maximum extensions.