First GE Supersonic commercial Jet Engine

GE’s Affinity is a new class of supersonic engines purpose-built for business jets.

The GE’s Affinity launching a new era of efficient supersonic flight, is the first civil supersonic engine in 55 years.

It is purposefully designed to enable efficient supersonic flight over water and efficient subsonic flight over land, without requiring modifications to existing compliance regulations.

First GE Supersonic commercial Jet Engine

The engine is timed to meet the launch of the Aerion AS2, who plans to fly their supersonic aircraft by 2023.

Aerion AS2

David Richardson, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works’ director of air vehicle design, told GE Aviation’s BikeShop blog:

“Today’s announcement by GE is a huge step forward in realizing this airplane. For us to design a clean-sheet airplane at Skunk Works, we always start with an engine. Without an engine, you don’t have an airplane. It is the enabler really for this whole enterprise.”

source GE