S Poddar
Iron Maiden’s legendary tour aircraft, Ed Force One, has been disassembled, and its components are now up for sale. In a surprising twist, German company Aviationtag, which has expertise in recycling parts from retired airplanes, has transformed pieces of this historic plane into collectibles. These exclusive pieces are now up for grabs for the fans and aviation enthusiasts, getting a part of Iron Maiden’s history into their lives.
In 2016, Iron Maiden went on their “Book of Souls” tour around the globe, and the band utilized Ed Force One, a specially decorated Boeing 747-400 aircraft, for this journey. The plane was repainted with Iron Maiden’s signature logo, complete with the popular zombie-like mascot, Eddie, which was applied to the tail fin. The aircraft was not only an emblem of the band’s rock and roll image, but it was also a vital component of their global shows. Today, after all the years of performance, this historic piece of music is being deconstructed, and parts of it are being reclaimed for fans to possess.
Aviationtag, the organization that has undertaken this initiative, specializes in creating productive products out of what would otherwise be discarded from retired aircrafts such as keychains, tags, and other souvenirs. They’ve, in this instance, taken sections of Ed Force One’s fuselage and turned them into limited edition tags. They are made from the white fuselage of the aircraft and have been carefully crafted in order to ensure that the aircraft’s spirit is not lost.
In a bid to give every tag a unique touch, the company did not only use the fuselage. The crew included material from the painted blue tail fin of the plane, which had been painted up to nine times during its operational period. As per Tobia Richter, the chief commercial officer at Aviationtag, this layering of paint gives every tag a special quality. “To achieve color variations, we also included material from the blue tail fin, which had up to nine layers of paint stacked upon each other over time,” Richter describes.
The tags are tiny, about 1.5 by 3.5 inches (35 by 88 millimeters), and cost €66.66 (about $73). The cost is a wink to the band’s notorious song “The Number of the Beast,” whose title invokes the number 666. It’s a witty tribute that connects the collectible to the iconic aspects of Iron Maiden’s music.
The Boeing 747-400, the plane that once flew the band around the world, was a behemoth of an aircraft, stretching 71 meters (230 feet) long. This gives a perspective of how many tags are possibly created using the materials from the plane. There could, in theory, be 100,000 of them, but Aviationtag has opted to create a limited batch of these souvenir items. We want to continue to provide our collectors and fans with new planes from various airlines, instead of producing huge editions of a single plane,” Richter explains. The firm’s dedication to small, exclusive editions means that the tags will stay special and distinct for collectors.
Aviationtag has been upcycling aircraft parts for sale since 2006. The company has upcycled many aircraft into collectibles, such as popular commercial aircraft like the Airbus A380 and military aircraft like the DC-3 “candy bomber.” The intention is to provide products that reflect aviation history, in addition to providing something physical for enthusiasts to grasp. That’s why we favor smaller, exclusive numbers from a broader range of aircraft, so every tag is really special,” Richter states.
And for Iron Maiden enthusiasts, this chance to claim a part of Ed Force One is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to link with the band’s rich past. Indeed, during the plane’s dismantling, some surprises awaited. Richter states that they even discovered remnants of gold-colored paint in a few places in the fuselage beneath layers of paint. It gives an added level of uniqueness to each label, making it even more unique for collectors.
The idea of converting a retired plane into collectibles is part of the greater trend of upcycling and repurposing materials. It’s green and inventive to save a slice of history while also giving new life to artifacts that could otherwise be lost. With this, the life of the plane does not cease with retirement; rather, it’s being reimagined in a manner that allows enthusiasts to bring home a bit of the journey.
Iron Maiden’s Ed Force One has definitely made its mark on the band’s history. Whether you were a fan of the band’s music, a supporter of their legendary live performances, or just someone who appreciates one-of-a-kind aviation memorabilia, these tags provide a chance to own a piece of history. Every tag is a reminder of the unforgettable performances, the hard work of the crew and the raw spectacle that was Iron Maiden’s 2016 world tour.
As Iron Maiden keeps creating music and leaving its mark on the world of rock, it is evident that their impact extends beyond the stage. Today, fans are able to take a part of that legacy with them, in the shape of a small, carefully made tag that once soared through the air with the band. This partnership between Iron Maiden and Aviationtag is a tribute to the long-lasting power of music and the enduring influence it exerts on fans.
