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 Affinity TM is optimized with proven GE technology for supersonic flight and timed to meet the Aerion AS2 launch. 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. "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.