GE’s AffinityTM: The first civil supersonic engine in 55 years – launching a new era of efficient supersonic flight
October 15 2018 - 6:17PM
Business Wire
Affinity will power the Aerion AS2 supersonic
business jet with first flight in 2023
At a press conference with Aerion Corporation today, GE Aviation
announced that it has completed the initial design of the first
supersonic engine purpose-built for business jets. This new engine
class, revealed today as GE’s AffinityTM turbofan, is optimized
with proven GE technology for supersonic flight and timed to meet
the Aerion AS2 launch.
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The name “Affinity” was chosen because it
reflects this engine class’ harmonious assemblage of GE’s
commercial, non-civil and business aviation propulsion technologies
to bring a true step-change in commercial supersonic propulsion.
(Photo: Business Wire)
The Affinity is a new class of medium bypass ratio engines that
provide exceptional and balanced performance across supersonic and
subsonic flights. The Affinity integrates a unique blend of proven
military supersonic experience, commercial reliability and the most
advanced business jet engine technologies.
GE’s Affinity is a twin-shaft, twin-fan turbofan controlled by a
next generation Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) for
enhanced dispatch reliability and onboard diagnostics. It is
purposefully designed to enable efficient supersonic flight over
water and efficient subsonic flight over land, without requiring
modifications to existing compliance regulations. The engine is
designed to meet stringent Stage 5 subsonic noise requirements and
beat current emissions standards.
GE’s Affinity features:
• Efficient performance throughout the full flight envelope with
a high-altitude service ceiling of 60,000.
• An advanced twin-fan with the highest bypass ratio of any
supersonic engine.
• A special, non-augmented supersonic exhaust system.
• A proven engine core adapted from GE's commercial airline
portfolio with billions of successful and reliable hours of
operational service.
• A durable combustor with advanced coatings for sustained
high-speed operation.
• Advanced acoustic technology designed to meet or exceed
regulatory requirements.
• GE’s additive design & manufacturing technologies to
optimize weight & performance.
“In the last 50 years, business aircraft speeds have increased
by less than 10 percent,” said Brad Mottier, GE Vice President and
General Manager for Business and General Aviation & Integrated
Services. “Instead of going faster, cabins have increased in size
and become more comfortable - and range has become longer. With
large, comfortable cabin, long range aircraft in the marketplace,
the next step is speed . . . made possible with GE’s Affinity.”
After two years of a preliminary study, GE Aviation and Aerion
launched a formal process in May of 2017 to define and evaluate a
final engine configuration for the AS2 supersonic business jet. A
GE Project team, supported by a dedicated Engineering team,
continue to work with Aerion in a formal and gated process. The
next design review is targeted for 2020, signaling the beginning of
detailed design and test article production.
Aerion is collaborating with GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin and
Honeywell to develop the AS2.
“Our mission is to enhance global mobility with supersonic
speed, starting with business aviation, and following with
successively faster and larger designs for business and commercial
aviation,” said Aerion CEO Tom Vice. “GE Aviation is making this
new efficient, sustainable supersonic era possible through its
pioneering work on the Affinity engine.”
Video: Meet GE’s AffinityPhotos: Aerion AS2
About GE Aviation
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a
world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and
integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general
aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to
support these offerings.
About Aerion
Aerion is pioneering a new generation of efficient supersonic
aircraft aimed at revolutionizing flight and giving travelers back
the most precious commodity of all--time. It entered into
collaborative agreements with GE Aviation and Lockheed Martin in
2017. The three companies, joined in 2018 by Honeywell for advanced
cockpit systems, are developing the Mach 1.4 AS2 supersonic
business jet. This 12-passenger jet will save travelers as much as
three hours across the Atlantic and five hours across the Pacific.
It is as much as 60 percent faster than today’s civil jets. The AS2
will redefine the passenger experience, providing a new level of
luxurious, connected, productive and serene flight at 1,000 mph.
Aerion plans to fly the AS2 in 2023, with certification in
2025.
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GE AviationNick Hurmnick.hurm@ge.comMobile: 513.484.4450
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