Iron Maiden Literally Take To The Skies With 2016 World Tour

Iconic UK rockers Iron Maiden have announced plans for a world tour next year and will literally take to the skies to play shows in six of the seven continents around the globe, including Australia, in 2016. 

Frontman Bruce Dickinson, who is currently in training for a license to fly, will captain and pilot a Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet and will travel over 55,000 miles during the tour in support of their forthcoming album, The Book Of Souls.

The massive four-engine jet is almost twice the size and over three times the weight of the Boeing 757 which the band used on previous tours in 2008, 2009 and 2011. 

Details of the world tour are currently being finalised with specific dates to be announced shortly, though the London-founded act have plans to kick the shows off in the US next February, with an aim to head Down Under in the first half of May. 

"We're all really excited at the thought of bringing our brand new tour to fans who have never seen us play live before, and of course re-visiting all our old friends again too," Dickinson said of the upcoming tour. 

"You can rest assured we are all working hard to put together a spectacular show for our fans."

Iron Maiden's sixteenth and first ever double studio album, is set for release on September 4 through Parlophone Records.