According to The Bucks Herald, IRON MAIDEN lead singer Bruce Dickinson made a surprise landing at RAF Halton this week when his plane started to run low on fuel.Dickinson was piloting a replica Fokker Dr1 triplane when he diverted his plane into Halton, which is said to be one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom.Squadron leader Gary Coleman, officer commanding operations squadron at RAF Halton, said: "We applaud Bruce Dickinsons decision to divert to RAF Halton rather than press to his destination with potentially low fuel."To see such a well-regarded pilot, and world-renowned rock singer, make this decision is great for our student pilots to see."It makes them realise that anyone can find themselves low on fuel due to unforeseen circumstances and that the right decision is to divert."He really does have a magnificent Fokker Triplane, so it was a pleasure to provide it with a home for a few nights until we sent him on his way."After the sad death of John Day, who owned and built this replica Fokker Dr1 aircraft, it was bought by Dickinson, who holds the coveted Air Transport Pilots' Licence and has around 7,000 flying hours under his belt.Bruce said: "Aeroplanes started at the age of five with my godfather, in the RAF during the siege of Malta and one of 'Trenchard's apprentices.' My uncle was RAF and also an engineer. "Until age 30 plastic aeroplanes and Biggles was as far as I got. Rubbish at maths and physics, I talked myself out of applying to the RAF and nearly joined the Army. Luckily for the U.K. military, I became a rock singer instead. "I started actually flying at the ripe old age of 30. 7,000 hours later, I finished up as a Boeing 757 captain and 737 instructor. "Luckily, the aircraft design I fly is still older than me, but the gap is closing. "In my spare time, I sing a bit, own a company that fixes airliners and am trying to bring airships back into the skies. Actually, I should have been born in 1898, not 1958. C'est la vie."
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