To provide an air valve assembly replaceable with a conventional air valve assembly, and controlling a flow rate of cooling air of a nozzle of a gas turbine engine.

This air valve assembly of the gas turbine engine has first and second valve elements. The second valve element is opposed to the first valve element, and can rotate around a first shaft. A flow rate of air passing through the first and second valve elements is controlled by rotation. An actuator is connected to the second valve element by a connecting device. The connecting device has a spindle having a first part connected to the actuator, and thus, the spindle can rotate around a second shaft. A second part of the spindle and the second valve element are connected by a guided spherical bearing.