Iron Maiden Brings 'Ed Force One' To Tulsa

Iron Maiden made a dramatic entrance in Tulsa Thursday afternoon.

The heavy metal band flew into Tulsa International Airport aboard a chartered Boeing 747 called Ed Force One.

Tulsa is one of only nine U.S. cities where the band is making a stop on its "The Book of Souls" World Tour. It will perform Friday night at the BOK Center.

The first stop on the tour was Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Next up is Las Vegas, New York, Detroit, Chicago, Tacoma, Denver and Los Angeles.

10/1/2016: Related Story: Iron Maiden Picks Tulsa For One Of 9 U.S. Shows

The band hasn't played in Tulsa since 1987.

Lead singer Bruce Dickinson is an accomplished pilot and is piloting Ed Force One on the tour. The jet is so big it's carrying the band, crew and production equipment. On previous tours, the band used a 757 which wasn't big enough to carry everything. 

The band named the jet after its mascot, Eddie, which began life as a papier-mache mask at some of the band's earliest shows. The band now uses the character in all of its merchandise and album art.