Star Wars: The Force Awakens cast flies to UK premiere in incredible R2-D2 plane

The force was with this flight

Star Wars cast and crew prepare to board a special Force plane to take them to London (Star Wars/ANA/Associated Press)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens fever is officially upon us as the film hits UK cinemas today.

The European premiere filled London’s Leicester Square on Wednesday night, but while the stars old and new donned their best outfits to greet fans, it was their means of transport that really blew our minds.

Cast and crew jetted from Los Angeles to London in a posh plane made to look like lovable blue and silver droid R2-D2 and emblazoned with the Star Wars logo on the fuselage.

The route was given a special flight number in honour of the year the first Star Wars movie was released: NH1977. It is the first plane to be “decorated with Star Wars livery”, its makers confirmed.

Creator George Lucas joined the actors and new director JJ Abrams on the the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Japan’s All Nippon Airways, which landed at Gatwick Airport eight hours before the premiere.

The plane made its first voyage on 18 October when it flew from Tokyo, Japan to Vancouver, Canda. Another Star Wars-themed service began in November on the airline’s domestic routes, featuring both R2-D2 and new droid BB-8.

Passengers can buy tickets to Star Wars on the plane and watch all six movies in the franchise during the flight.

BB-8 will get his own plane in March 2016, which will reportedly fly on several Japan to US routes. It’s not quite the Millennium Falcon, but it’s pretty cool right?