Iron Maiden have issued a documentary saluting Ed Force One, the Boeing 747 jumbo jet the band used for a 2016 world tour in support of their latest release, “The Book Of Souls.”
Piloted by singer Bruce Dickinson, the group travelled across six continents to play 72 shows in 36 countries to more than 1.5 million fans since the tour launch in Fort Lauderdale, Fl in late February.
Just two weeks into the trek, Ed Force One had an accident at a Santiago, Chile airport on March 12 that saw its engines damaged while the plane was being towed for refuelling.
The incident required the replacement both port side jet engines, which alone weigh 5000kg each and cost around four million dollars each.
Replacement gear and technicians were flown in from Europe and Iceland to get the repairs completed and the jet rejoined the tour less than two weeks later.
Along the way, Iron Maiden teamed up with German-based model company Revell to produce a limited-edition version of Ed Force One.
The band will stream the final concert on The Book Of Souls World Tour from the Wacken Open Air Festival in Wacken, Germany on August 4.
As the trek winds down, Dickinson offered his own tribute to Ed Force One.
“This aeroplane, painted up like this – it’s incredible,” says the singer. “It has the nickname the Queen Of The Skies – and she really is. And in this guise, with Iron Maiden down the side of it, it just blows the doors off ever other plane on the planet.
“Honestly, if you wanted me to swap for Air Force One, I wouldn’t do it.”
See also:
Iron Maiden to stream final concert of Book Of Souls tour
VIDEO: Iron Maiden release Death Or Glory live footage
VIDEO: Iron Maiden perform live debut in China
VIDEO: Iron Maiden cockpit view from Ed Force One
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