Iron Maiden in Melbourne. Supplied 1 December 2008 to New Zealand Herald for TimeOut by Angela Mace NZH 04Dec08 - CAMPERVAN: Bruce Dickinson says going on tour with Iron Maiden is like b
When he's not singing for Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson is a commercial pilot, qualified to fly Boeing 757s and 737s. He also manages Air Djibouti, the national carrier of Djibouti, which was relaunched this week after going bankrupt in 2002.
In May, Dickinson said: "Djibouti is uniquely placed to provide a hub for investment from Europe, the Middle East and Asia into Africa."
We say: "Run to the hills with this list of seven great celebrity pilots."
The All Blacks skipper is a keen pilot and in 2009 was made a squadron leader the Royal New Zealand Air Force - following in the footsteps of his late grandfather who was a RNZAF fighter pilot during World War II. The young McCaw used to fly gliders with him as a child in Otago.
Invincible action man Chuck Norris served in the US Air Force in the late 50s. He still pilots single engine planes at his ranch in Texas. As the joke goes, "Chuck Norris doesn't request clearances. He states intentions."
He's licensed to fly both airplanes and helicopters and has even piloted rescue helicopters. Earlier this year, Ford was labelled a hero when the vintage plane he was flying crashed in California. As he brought the plane down, the experienced pilot was careful to avoid the homes below, landing in a nearby golf course.
After starring in Top Gun, Cruise became inspired to fly planes off screen. He got his pilot's license in 1994 and owns four planes, including World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane.
Probably the most well-known celebrity pilot, Travolta owns five planes and his Florida estate has a 7,500 foot runway leading right up to the house. There's even a challenger jet parked in the backyard.
Freeman earned a private pilot's license at the age of 65 and now owns two planes - proving you're never too old to learn. Last year he was forced to make four emergency landings while flying a malfunctioning plane to the Toronto Film Festival.
- nzherald.co.nz
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