Heavy Metal...

[seanbean]

Bruce Dickinson Flies Troops Home From Afghanistanadded: 01/09/2008

Is there anything that this man can't do?
It has been revealed in Peterborough Today, Bruce Dickinson was the pilot on a very special flight (http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=48920#) to bring troops who had been serving in Afghanistan for 7 months back to the UK.
Speaking about the whole incident, Squadron Leader 'Albert' Finney has said: "I wanted to speak to the captain because we are not used to handling such large aircraft, and I needed to check he was happy with the taxi-plan. The captain happened to be Bruce Dickinson."

"I knew he flew for Astraeus, but what were the chances of him being the pilot? He was as proud as punch at flying the lads and wanted to tell me all about his Boeing 757."
Iron Maiden have just wrapped up their 'Somewhere In Time' world tour.


Metal Hammer - News Article (http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=48920)

[spamcanner]

I had the pleasure of being flown back from Chambery to Gatwick by Bruce after a skiing trip recently. Caused quite a stir down the back when the FO's name was announced! I just hoped he'd sing '2 Minutes to Gatwick' but alas it was not to be! Congrats on his promotion into the left hand seat:)

[bayete]

Caused quite a stir when passengers getting off the aircraft in Chambrey turned around to see the aircraft that we were in was in fact the one with the Iron Maiden paint job. Looked like a 1980's panal van job.
Photos: Boeing 757-23A Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=1323343&size=L)
No-one had realised while on the flight as we had boarded through a tunnel at Gatwick.

[sprucemoose]

It makes 'The Trooper' seem all the more poignant, eh?

Apologies to those ppruners not au fait with Iron Maiden's lyrics!!

:}

[SparksFlyHigh]

Or even the song Tail gunner :ok:

[Question_Answer]

..or perhaps the rather more poignant "Only the good die young" (on 7th Son...album).
Read Bruce's wiki entry for some interesting stories (school expulsion!). With his drive and determination perhaps he would be a better role model or leader than many others currently in post. As a pilot he could be the next CAS right? ;)

[sprucemoose]

I can't believe I missed this really obvious one earlier:

Aces High!

[LambOfGod]

I'v always loved IM, but when I realised he was a 757 pilot I thought that was awesome. Is Bruce a member here at PPRune, if you are Bruce or know his user, PPM me!!!

[alwayslookingup]

L of G

With that username, I think you are Bruce Dicknson. :cool:

[Wycombe]

Is Bruce a member here at PPRuNe?

Indeed he is, but I'm not going to be the one to reveal his nom-de-Pprune.

[Mr C Hinecap]

I'v always loved IM, but when I realised he was a 757 pilot I thought that was awesome. Is Bruce a member here at PPRune, if you are Bruce or know his user, PPM me!!!

Scariest posting on PPRUNE this year.

:suspect:

[Thelma Viaduct]

Scariest posting on PPRUNE this year.Funniest post on here this year. :E

[MightyGem]

I was taking an Air Trooping flight from Luton to Gutersloh back in the 80s, and for some reason it was Lauda Air rather than Britannia. As we walked out to board, Nikki was leaning out of the cockpit window.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

I'v always loved IM, but when I realised he was a 757 pilot I thought that was awesome. Is Bruce a member here at PPRune, if you are Bruce or know his user, PPM me!!!

I confess! I'm Spartacus......

[The Nr Fairy]

Tis a shame Bruce isn't Australian.

"Hi, Bruce" . . .

[TiffyFGR4]

Bruce does A LOT of things, pilot, fencer, writer, literature, TV presenter, DJ/Radio presenter, train spotter, (And yes, that's train spotting he does), tanks, (I believe he has a Soviet T-34....) & god knows what else....Busy bloke...

I had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago just after he rejoined Maiden, top bloke, down to earth, great guy.........(Quite short). We got talking about quite a bit, music, aviation, cars, trains etc over a cup of coffee & an all day breakfast, and I'm not kidding, that guy's brain is an encyclopedia. :eek::)

Also, (Not that it matters to anyone on here...But ah well, nice to rub salt into peoples wounds that are Maiden fans that can't go! :E) I'm off to see Iron maiden in Dubai on February 13th, my girlfriend bought me a ticket, and one for herself, (Because she lives there you see), so, that'd be my 21st time I've seen Maiden live....I think? Lost count.

Up The Irons!
Ta-ta

[Flyingblind]

EEK!

I'm in Doha ATM and due to leave around then, might have to spend a day or two in Dubai before heading home.

Good news as i didnt know they were playing!

[JessTheDog]

I saw Maiden in 1988 (Seventh Son), 2003 (Dance of Death) and 2006 (A Matter of Life and Death). Bruce is an excellent rock vocalist, probably the best and the energy and enthusiasm of the band is amazing. I thought Maiden were at their peak in the mid-to-late 80s, they have peaked again!

Perhaps they could do a Forces benefit gig - focussing on their extensive catalogue of military-themed songs: The Trooper, Aces High, Tail Gunner, These Colours Don't Run, The Longest Day etc. Put them in a hanger somewhere, park a few tanks next to the stage. I'd happily pay a higher price if it was for good causes...any excuse to see them again!

Up the Irons!!!!!!!!!!!

:D

[TiffyFGR4]

Flyingblind,

Maiden are at a venue called: 'Dubai Media City Amphitheatre'. But if you're really going, you should get a ticket as soon as possible, like now! They'll soon sell out that gig for sure. As a matter of fact they're still doing a world tour. Still more dates to come. But sadly, no more UK dates for this tour.

Jessthedog,

I'd wish I'd had seen them live in 88 for the Seventh Son tour, but I was too young to go, only 6 years old at that time, bugger! But when Bruce came back, I seen every UK show they played, Brave New World, 2001. (I think that was a 8-9 date tour?) Then in 2003, Dance Of Death tour, I was at all the UK dates all but two, but I was at the Download Festival to see them. That was a Classic!! Seen them again at the Rock Am Festival in Germany, 2005. Then again when they done A Matter Of Life And Death, I was at all of their UK tour dates, also at Den Bosch Holland & Paris France in 2006....That was a great year....I lost my job because of going to all those gigs, bloody expensive too...But c'mon...It's Iron Maiden!

Then in March 2007, I went to see them at Desert Rocks in Dubai, I met my girlfriend just a few days before there & she was going there too, so we just went together & hit it off well. Never been happier). Then again here in blighty when they headlined the Download Festival, 07, (The one where Brucie fell over on stage haha) my girlfriend came over here for the first time & we went their together. That was just so perfect. We do that quite a lot, if theirs a metal band we like, we always make time to go there in Dubai or here in Britian. So, like I said before, off to see Maiden again in Dubai. And I'm hoping they'll go to Desert Rocks again 09 cause we're going there too. Fingers crossed.

And........We're just waiting for when they do a new album & a new tour, which will be soon I'm sure.

So, as you can see I'm a bit of a maiden fan. :ok:

Jesus, I could make my own documentary about that. haha

And yeah, that'd be great if they could do a Forces Benifit gig. Count us in! :)