Plain English Meaning

Fixed blades inside a jet engine that don't spin. They sit between the spinning blades and steer the air or hot gas so it hits the next set of spinning blades at just the right angle.

Full Definition

Stationary airfoil-shaped blades fixed to the inside of a turbine engine case that sit between rows of rotating blades. In the compressor section, they redirect and slow the airflow leaving each rotating stage so it enters the next stage at the correct angle and pressure. In the turbine section (where they are often called nozzle guide vanes), they direct hot gases onto the rotating turbine blades at the correct angle.

Context Anchor

Seen in turbine engine and turbine section descriptions, especially during , , and engine airflow discussions.