DRAKE AIMING HIGH WITH NEW VIRGIN PLANE

Rapper Drake has landed his own plane, courtesy of Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson.

The hitmaker has become the first hip-hop artist to have a commercial airplane named after him.

Air Drake is the newest plane in the Virgin America fleet - it will ferry passengers between the rapper's native Toronto, Canada and California destinations.

Drake and Branson took the inaugural flight on Wednesday (30Jun10) and the thrilled star said, "It's breathtaking... It's phenomenal."

Branson adds, "We're honoured to name our plane Air Drake. He's Canadian through and through; he's one of the most successful Canadians. He bridges the gap between Canada and America very successfully."

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined Drake and Branson for a press conference in San Francisco, California on Wednesday morning during a stop over between Los Angeles and Toronto.

Drake's image features on the side of the plane.