A high-speed vertical take-off and land aircraft includes a body with an engine supported by the body. A fan assembly is also carried by the body. The fan assembly includes a hub and a plurality of blades to provide vertical lift for the aircraft. A nozzle ring is provided on the fan assembly. The nozzle ring includes an annular nozzle array. Hot gases from the engine are fed to the nozzle array by a feed duct. A bearing mechanism supports the fan assembly on the body. The bearing mechanism is carried in a work space. A brush seal assembly thermally isolates the work space from the hot exhaust gases passing through the feed duct to the nozzle array.