Variable area nozzle including a plurality of convexly vanes with a crowned contour, in a vane to vane sealing arrangement and with nonuniform lengths

A variable area nozzle comprising a concentric support and a plurality of convexly contoured self sealing vanes is disclosed and claimed. The vanes are circumferentially and rotatably mounted to the concentric support forming a nozzle infinitely positionable between a first position corresponding to a minimum area nozzle and a second position corresponding to a maximum area nozzle. A closer, which is preferably a shape memory alloy (SMA), urges the nozzle toward the first position corresponding to a minimum area nozzle. Periodically spaced openers act between adjacent vanes to urge the nozzle to a second position corresponding to a maximum area nozzle.