The effect of a variant drain orifice damping on the characteristics of a servovalve flapper-nozzle stage is analyzed. Steady-state characteristics of flapper-nozzle stage and the linearized dynamics of flapper-nozzle assembly with a spool valve show that the variant drain orifice damping could improve such null performance characteristics as null pressure sensitivity and linearity of gain function. Generalized design criterion and a sufficient condition for servovalve stability are also established.