A gas turbine engine includes a core engine that has at least a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section disposed along a central axis. A fan is coupled to be driven by the turbine section. A fan nacelle is arranged around the fan, and a bypass passage extends between the fan nacelle and the core engine. A variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) extends at least partially around the central axis and defines an exit area of the bypass passage. The VAFN is selectively movable to vary the exit area. The VAFN includes a body that defines an airfoil cross-section shape. The VAFN includes a wall that has a mechanical property distribution in accordance with a computer-simulated vibration profile of a flutter characteristic of the VAFN.