FARNBOROUGH, England—Bruce Dickinson has spent his life singing in the rock band Iron Maiden. Now, the frontman is working on an altogether different type of metal: airplanes.

Mr. Dickinson just finished a three-year world tour with his legendary metal band, but he's also been a pilot for 25 years, and is now focusing on a new solo act: He set up last year a company that mixes airline leasing, plane maintenance and pilot training—all in the Welsh valleys.

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