For their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour in 2008 and 2009, Iron Maiden commissioned an Astraeus Airlines Boeing 757 as transport.[239] The aeroplane was converted into a combi configuration, which enabled it to carry the band, their crew and stage production, thereby allowing the group to perform in countries which were previously deemed unreachable logistically.[144] It was also repainted with a special Iron Maiden livery,[144] which the airline decided to retain after receiving positive feedback from customers.[240]
The aircraft, named "Ed Force One" after a competition on the band's website,[145] was flown by Dickinson, as he was also a commercial airline pilot for Astraeus, and plays a major role in the award-winning documentary,[241] Iron Maiden: Flight 666, which was released in cinemas in 42 countries in April 2009.[156] A different aeroplane (G-STRX)[242] was used for The Final Frontier World Tour in 2011 with altered livery, adopting the artwork of The Final Frontier album,[243] and features heavily in the 2012 documentary "Behind the Beast".