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How popular is Iron Maiden?

Hundreds of fans parked cars wherever they could (within reason) and waited just to catch a glimpse of the band’s plane as it arrived Thursday at Tulsa International Airport.

It’s easy to distinguish Iron Maiden’s plane from others. The Iron Maiden logo is plastered on the side of a 747 jet and there’s a big illustration of the band’s monstrous mascot, Eddie, on the tail of the plane. The plane’s name is Ed Force One.

Fans stood outside the airport perimeter to witness Ed Force One’s arrival.

Steve Holt, sitting in the passenger seat of a pickup truck facing the plane’s arrival path, was asked if he was surprised at the turnout.

“Nah,” he said. “Here they come right now, though.”

Doug Burgess and Andrew Genisio stood on top of a pickup truck for a better vantage point when the plane arrived around 4:20 p.m.

“This is the biggest heavy metal band in the world and they are playing right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” Burgess said. “They sell out stadiums around the world.”