Definition
The technique of redirecting the direction of a jet engine's exhaust flow to change the direction of thrust, allowing thrust to act at an angle other than straight rearward. This is achieved through movable nozzles or deflectors at the engine exhaust outlet and is used to provide vertical or short takeoff capability and enhanced maneuverability.
Plain English
Pointing the hot gases coming out the back of a jet engine in different directions, so the push from the engine can act downward, sideways, or backward depending on what the aircraft needs.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of thrust, especially where engine exhaust is used to help control, lift, or turn an aircraft.
Derivation
Vector' comes from the Latin vehere, meaning 'to carry,' and in physics a vector is a quantity with both size and direction. To 'vector' something is to give it a chosen direction. So 'vectoring the exhaust' literally means choosing which way to send the exhaust.
Why Pilots Care
Allows thrust to contribute to pitch, yaw, or roll control and improves takeoff or landing performance in certain aircraft.
Analogy
It is like pointing a leaf blower. The air goes one way, and the blower pushes back the other way. Change where the air points, and you change where the push acts.
Grounding Statement
If the exhaust flow is aimed downward or sideways, the aircraft feels a push in the opposite direction.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse this with ATC vectoring, where a controller gives a heading. Here, vectoring means physically aiming the engine exhaust so the thrust points in a chosen direction.
Example Sentence 1
By vectoring the exhaust gases downward, the Harrier produces enough vertical thrust to take off without a runway.
Example Sentence 2
On short runways the aircraft uses exhaust nozzles that can vector the exhaust gases rearward and slightly downward for extra lift at liftoff.