General Electric F101

The General Electric F101 is an afterburning turbofan jet engine. It powers the B-1 Lancer strategic bomber fleet of the USAF. In full afterburner it produces a thrust of 30,000 lb_f. The F101 was GE's first turbofan with an afterburner. [ [http://www.geae.com/engines/military/f101/index.html GE's F101 web page] ]

Development

The F101 was developed specifically for the Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft, which became the B-1A. The F101 powered the four development aircraft from 1970 to 1981. The B-1A was officially cancelled in 1977, however as well as the continued flight test program General Electric was awarded a contract to further develop their F101-102 engines. These turbofans eventually powered the B-1B from 1984, entering service in 1985. The GE F110 fighter engine is a derivative of the F101, designed using data from the F101-powered variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon tested in the early 1980s.

The B-1's four F101 engines helped the aircraft win 61 world records for speed, payload and range. This range is intercontinental without aerial refueling.

The F101 became the basis for the highly successful CFM56 series of civil turbofans.

References

External links

* [http://www.geaviation.com/engines/military/f101/ F101 on GE Aviation's site]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/f101.htm F101 page on GlobalSecurity.org]