Iron Maiden's iconic Ed Force One Boeing 747 ended up living a very surprising life after the band
Published on Sep 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Sep 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Molly Davidson
Iron Maiden had a jumbo jet that was as famous as the band itself – this Boeing 747 is Ed Force One.
And it wasn’t just a tour bus with wings – it was actually flown by frontman Bruce Dickinson.
The Boeing 747 carried their stage, crew, and rock ‘n’ roll entourage to every corner of the planet.
But once the music stopped, Ed Force One had a second act nobody saw coming.
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Iron Maiden’s Ed Force One Book of Souls tour plane
The plane in question was a Boeing 747-400, registration TF-AAK, better known to fans as ‘Ed Force One’.
Unlike your average band tour bus, this one was frequently piloted by Bruce Dickinson himself.
He wasn’t just the voice of Maiden – he was literally in the captain’s seat.
Drafted into service for the band’s Book of Souls world tour, that ran between 2016 and 2017, the jumbo was chosen because earlier 757s just couldn’t cut it.
Dickinson admitted the smaller jets were ‘not big enough anymore’ – the 747 could carry the full stage show, technicians, baggage, and crew in one go.
Over 2016 and 2017, TF-AAK proved its worth.
Launching from Cardiff, it hauled the production across the Americas, then on to Japan, China, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, before a 51-date sprint through Europe.
In Santiago it even survived a tug collision, quickly patched up and sent back into the skies.
By the time it touched down for the final show in Brooklyn, the jet had supported 117 concerts in 36 countries, carried the kit for 1.3 million fans worth of gigs, and helped generate more than $91 million.
The Book of Souls tour wrapped in 2017, but TF-AAK wasn’t done flying.
The surprising second life of TF-AAK
Its Iron Maiden duties done, the jumbo had one last gig in costume.
Still wearing the Ed Force One paint, TF-AAK ferried 350 Icelandic football fans to Marseille for Euro 2016 – a final rock ‘n’ roll-style gesture before moving on.
Soon after, it was repainted in Saudia Airline colors, still owned by Air Atlanta Icelandic but flying on lease.
The ex-rockstar jet settled into steady work, hauling passengers between Jeddah, Surabaya, Addis Ababa, and Dhaka.
That run hit pause during the pandemic, with the plane parked from March 2020.
Even so, at just 17 and a half years old, it’s still young for a 747.
A 22-minute Jeddah test hop in June suggests the airline is eyeing her return.
For a jet that’s carried both metalheads and football fans, another encore feels inevitable.
From world tours to pilgrim runs, Ed Force One proves legends don’t retire – they just change stages.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
