Revell GmbH, a leading kit model manufacturer, has teamed up with Global Merchandising Services for the IRON MAIDEN limited-edition model plane, Ed Force One.

MAIDEN's actual Boeing 747 jumbo is named Ed Force One after the band's mascot, Eddie, who has appeared on all of their album covers, and graces the plane's tail.

Ed Force One is being piloted on the band's world tour by MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson.

"As soon as we knew that Bruce would be piloting the plane for IRON MAIDEN's world tour, we knew that we had to do something special to celebrate the occasion, and Revell are an obvious partner for this fantastic collaboration," said Global Merchandising Services' licensing manager Jens Drinkwater.

"Their model kits have been a synonym for plastic modelling for over 60 years, and this detailed model of Ed Force One will appeal to both traditional builders and hobbyists as well as the dedicated IRON MAIDEN fanbase."

Thomas Randrup from Revell GmbH added: "Our 1:144 scale model of Ed Force One will bring something new, as well as fun to civil aviation model kit genre and we are looking forward to a successful co-operation with Global Merchandising and IRON MAIDEN on this 2016 new product release."

IRON MAIDEN's world tour, in support of the band's latest album, "The Book Of Souls", kicked off on February 24 in Sunrise, Florida (a suburb of Fort Lauderdale).

Support on the trek is coming from THE RAVEN AGE, the band led by IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris.

MAIDEN's sixteenth — and first-ever double — studio album, "The Book Of Souls", was released worldwide on September 4, 2015 through Parlophone Records (BMG in the U.S.A). The CD was recorded in Paris, France with producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added last year.

IRON MAIDEN announced in May 2015 that touring plans to support the album wouldn't happen until this year to allow Dickinson time to fully recuperate after his successful cancer treatment.