A journal bearing assembly includes a first journal bearing disposed about a longitudinal end of a gear shaft and spaced a first distance from a first axial gear face. A first fluid film location and a first hybrid pad location are annularly between an inner surface of the first journal bearing and an outer surface of the gear shaft. The first hybrid pad location circumferentially adjacent to the first fluid film location has a minimum leading edge angular location of at least about 31.0° measured relative to a first bearing flat. A first porting path provides high pressure fluid communication from a location outside the first journal bearing to the first fluid film location at or adjacent to the first hybrid pad location.