The General Electric F101 is an afterburning turbofan developed for the B-1 bomber programme. Rated in the 30,000 lbf thrust class, it was GE's first production turbofan design to incorporate an augmentor. The improved F101-GE-102 became the engine for the production B-1B.[1]F101 turbofan enginesGE Aerospace · geaerospace.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Strategic-bomber development
The engine originated in the Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft programme, which became the B-1A. Although the planned B-1A production programme was cancelled in 1977, four aircraft supported an extensive flight-test effort. The later decision to produce the B-1B led to further engine development rather than abandoning the work already completed.[1]F101 turbofan enginesGE Aerospace · geaerospace.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
The production engine
GE developed the F101-102 as an improved version of the earlier flight-test engine. The first was delivered in 1983, followed by B-1B flight testing in 1984 and Air Force acceptance of the first aircraft in 1985. The last of 469 production -102 engines was completed in December 1987. The bomber subsequently operated with a conventional-weapons mission as well as its original strategic design background.[1]F101 turbofan enginesGE Aerospace · geaerospace.com · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Repair organisation
In 2008, the Air Force consolidated intermediate F101 maintenance at Tinker. The work addressed unscheduled damage, including fan-blade damage and high-pressure-turbine nozzle cracking. The maintenance shop could disassemble and rebuild engines while sending specialist rotor work elsewhere. This illustrates the distinction between replacing an installed engine and repairing its internal modules for return to the fleet.[2]Tinker performs intermediate maintenance on F101Air Force Materiel Command · afmc.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details
Service-life extension
A service-life extension programme introduced in August 2016 changed the maintenance model. Tinker reported completion of its final programmed F101 depot overhaul in 2021, explaining that the upgraded engines could be maintained at base-level facilities. The announcement concerned the transfer of overhaul work, rather than the end of the F101's operational service. Improved reliability was therefore accompanied by a reorganisation of how the engine was sustained.[3]Last F101 engine completes maintenanceTinker Air Force Base · tinker.af.mil · Accessed 2026-09-13Open source details