Most carriers make a big deal of any new aircraft they receive with a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a water-cannon salute. But when you\u2019re an MRO professional and pilot who also happens to be the leader of a pioneering heavy-metal band, such fanfare won\u2019t due.
\nBruce Dickinson, chairman of the U.K.\u2019s Cardiff Aviation and frontman for the band Iron Maiden, recently showed off the latest version of \u201cEd Force One,\u201d the 747-400 leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic, which will carry the band members, entourage, equipment and stage gear for the group\u2019s \u201cBook of Souls\u201d tour that will launch later this year. The aircraft is named for \u201cEddie,\u201d the ghoulish mascot of the band, whose image graces the tail of the customized livery (see photo).
\nDickinson, a trained commercial pilot when he\u2019s not head-banging on stage for multitudes, had flown the previous \u201cEd Force One,\u201d a 757-200, to locations on previous tours. When the band needed an upgrade to the 747-400, Dickinson went through flight training last year to be certified as a 747 pilot, and now will operate the widebody for the 2016 tour.
\nOn a recent trip back to Cardiff, Dickinson performed a night-landing that somehow only he could pull off in rock-star fashion. Check out this image of the 747 as it touched down, appearing to shoot flames from below the fuselage. How metal!
\nUpon closer inspection, the \u201cflames\u201d effect was likely created by a bright orange light on the belly, a wet runway and reverse thrusters that appear to be deployed early in the landing sequence to kick up some extra spray. Still, it\u2019s a pretty cool image that seemed as spectacular as the stage pyrotechnics the band creates on stage.
\nWe thought this was the perfect image to kick off your weekend. Rock on, everybody!
\nSource: aircargoworld<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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