A method for controlling operation of a gas turbine engine, comprising: determining an engine temperature comprising: determining an estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) for a combustor of the gas turbine engine based on at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine and an estimated vane mass flow (W 4est) for the gas turbine engine; determining a corrected vane mass flow (Q 4est) for the gas turbine engine based on the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est), the estimated vane mass flow (W 4est), and a combustor pressure (P 4) for the combustor of the gas turbine engine; comparing the corrected vane mass flow (Q 4est) to a reference vane mass flow ( Q 4target) to obtain a mass flow correction factor (Corr Q4); when a condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is not satisfied: adjusting the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) based on the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) to produce an adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and updating the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) based on the adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and when the condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is satisfied, issuing, via a controller associated with the gas turbine engine, a signal to assign the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) as the engine temperature; and using the controller to control operation of the engine based on the determined engine temperature. determining an engine temperature comprising: determining an estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) for a combustor of the gas turbine engine based on at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine and an estimated vane mass flow (W 4est) for the gas turbine engine; determining a corrected vane mass flow (Q 4est) for the gas turbine engine based on the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est), the estimated vane mass flow (W 4est), and a combustor pressure (P 4) for the combustor of the gas turbine engine; comparing the corrected vane mass flow (Q 4est) to a reference vane mass flow ( Q 4target) to obtain a mass flow correction factor (Corr Q4); when a condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is not satisfied: adjusting the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) based on the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) to produce an adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and updating the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) based on the adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and when the condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is satisfied, issuing, via a controller associated with the gas turbine engine, a signal to assign the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) as the engine temperature; and determining an estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) for a combustor of the gas turbine engine based on at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine and an estimated vane mass flow (W 4est) for the gas turbine engine; determining a corrected vane mass flow (Q 4est) for the gas turbine engine based on the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est), the estimated vane mass flow (W 4est), and a combustor pressure (P 4) for the combustor of the gas turbine engine; comparing the corrected vane mass flow (Q 4est) to a reference vane mass flow ( Q 4target) to obtain a mass flow correction factor (Corr Q4); when a condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is not satisfied: adjusting the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) based on the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) to produce an adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and updating the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) based on the adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and when the condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is satisfied, issuing, via a controller associated with the gas turbine engine, a signal to assign the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) as the engine temperature; and adjusting the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) based on the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) to produce an adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and updating the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) based on the adjusted combustor temperature (T 4adj); and when the condition associated with the mass flow correction factor ( Corr Q4) is satisfied, issuing, via a controller associated with the gas turbine engine, a signal to assign the estimated combustor temperature (T 4est) as the engine temperature; and using the controller to control operation of the engine based on the determined engine temperature.