What is thrust vectoring?
Thrust vectoring is the ability of an aircraft or other vehicle to direct the thrust from its main engine(s) in a direction other than parallel to the vehicle’s longitudinal axis. The technique was originally envisaged to provide upward vertical thrust as a means to give aircraft vertical (VTOL) or short (STOL) takeoff and landing ability. Subsequently, it was realized that using vectored thrust in combat situations enabled aircraft to perform various maneuvers not available to conventional-engined planes. To perform turns, aircraft that use no thrust vectoring must rely on only ailerons or flaps; craft with vectoring still must use ailerons, but to a lesser extent.
Thrust vectoring, such as in the new F-22, advanced tactical fighter, is the ability to increase maneuverability by controlling the direction the engine nozzles are pointing, independently of the direction of the aircraft. The space shuttle uses an analogous, but more limited form of thrust vectoring. The next time a space shuttle launches, watch the rocket engine nozzles on the bottom. You will see them move around as they are testing them for blast-off, and quite a bit less (unless something is seriously wrong) during blast-off.
