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Iron Maiden’s 2016 Boeing 747 Ed Force One was not scrapped after its tour. The band chartered the aircraft, registration TF-AAK, from Air Atlanta Icelandic; it later flew for Saudia and Air Atlanta Icelandic, was retired in 2022, and was broken up at Cotswold Airport in England in July 2024, according to aircraft records and aviation reporting.
Which Boeing 747 was Ed Force One?
The aircraft was a Boeing 747-400 registered TF-AAK, manufacturer serial number 32868. Before joining Air Atlanta Icelandic in 2015, it flew for Air France as F-GITH. Iron Maiden chartered it for the 2016 Book of Souls World Tour; the band did not own the aircraft. Bruce Dickinson, the band’s singer and a pilot, flew it during the tour. Aircraft history and Iron Maiden’s tour announcement identify the plane and its role.
“Ed Force One” was the tour aircraft’s nickname, a play on the band’s mascot Eddie and the name Air Force One. The 747 was the last official aircraft to carry the band under that name; earlier tours used Boeing 757s, so accounts of Ed Force One’s history may refer to a different plane. The aircraft comparison distinguishes those earlier aircraft from TF-AAK.
Why did Iron Maiden use a 747?
The 747 offered more cargo space and range than the 757 used previously. Its hold let the band carry the stage production and equipment without the extensive structural modifications Dickinson said the earlier aircraft required. Greater range also helped avoid refuelling stops. In its August 2015 announcement, the band said the planned tour would cover more than 55,000 miles (88,500 km) and carry over 12 tons of equipment; those were contemporary estimates, not independently audited totals. Iron Maiden’s announcement
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
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What happened in the Santiago accident?
On March 12, 2016, while at Santiago Airport in Chile, the 747 suffered a ground accident that damaged both port-side engines. Iron Maiden said the aircraft was leased from Air Atlanta and that Boeing provided technical assistance. Two replacement engines were flown to Chile, and the band announced that the repaired plane would return to the tour on March 22. The accident interrupted the tour but did not end the aircraft’s service. The band’s repair update
In that update, Iron Maiden reported that each replacement engine weighed 5,000 kg and cost around four million dollars. The band also said the tour covered 36 countries in five months. These are figures from the band’s 2016 account, not independently verified measurements. Dickinson praised the repair effort, saying, “The speed and thoroughness of this incredibly complex operation was stunning and we are so very pleased to get our plane back!” Iron Maiden’s March 21, 2016 update
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Where did the 747 go after the tour?
TF-AAK returned to commercial airline use after its time with Iron Maiden. Aircraft records show Saudia leasing the plane from Air Atlanta Icelandic beginning in 2016; it later returned to Air Atlanta Icelandic. It was retired in 2022 and stored at Cotswold Airport, also known as Kemble, in Gloucestershire, England. Aircraft records and aviation reporting place its breakup there in July 2024. Aircraft records and aviation reporting
That timeline matters: the Santiago engine damage was repaired, and the 747 continued flying for airlines after the band’s tour. It was not left intact as a display aircraft; records place it in storage before its reported breakup.
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Can you see or own a piece of Ed Force One?
Aviation reporting says sections of the 747’s skin were recovered and turned into collectible tags by Aviationtag. That establishes a memorabilia connection, but it does not confirm whether any tags are currently available. Aviation reporting on the recovered aircraft skin
A Herpa datasheet also documents a 1:200 metal model of the TF-AAK Boeing 747-400, product number 571609. The datasheet confirms the model existed, but does not establish current stock or a current seller. Herpa product datasheet
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
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