Tours of WWII bomber over Regina give glimpse into past

People in Regina have a chance to take a flight into the past this weekend as tours are being offered on a Second World War bomber.

The B-17 Bomber “Aluminum Overcast” arrived in the Queen City Monday – one of only 11 of the aircrafts that are still flyable today. Aluminum Overcast was never used in combat flying, but gives people a taste of what it would have been for the young men fighting in the Second World War.

“Once we get airborne, everybody gets up and walks around,” explained pilot Lorraine Morris during a preview flight for the media Wednesday. “They can go anywhere in the airplane except the ball turret, the tail gunner and my seat.”

Aluminum Overcast was completed in May 1945 – too late for the Second World War. It was still used to haul cargo.

Seventy years later, the propellers start with a sputter of smoke.

“It’s like driving a cement truck without power steering,” Morris described.

For Morris and others with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the best part of giving tours on the plane is sharing the history of the soldiers who risked their lives fighting for the country.

“Try to imagine yourself as that 19-year-old kid flying in it, first time away from home.”

As people inside the plane get to move around, they can touch the machine guns, stand in the cockpit and get a great view of the Queen City.

“They get two or three minutes in the front, in the bombardier area, so they can see the city. They can see everything we’re flying over.”

More information on the tours and availability can be found on EAA’s website.

About to take off in a B-17 #yqr pic.twitter.com/DqiVDUngG8

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) June 29, 2016

A few snaps from the ride in the B-17 bomber. #yqr pic.twitter.com/R5SvMgVnhv

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) June 29, 2016

I was in the nose of the B-17 as it flew over the new Mosaic Stadium #yqr pic.twitter.com/zBrUsz9pyq

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) June 29, 2016

B-17 bomber in Regina this weekend. Listen to @CJMENews for stories in the morning. #yqr pic.twitter.com/QvIcvbGoxn

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) June 30, 2016