Western Michigan University's College of Aviation to Launch Virtual Reality Experience

July 20, 2016
In addition to witnessing one of the most sophisticated flight fleets in all of collegiate aviation, participants at EAA AirVenture will also take a virtual tour of WMU's campus.

On July 25, Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation and Extended University Programs will launch a virtual reality experience during the world’s largest aviation event, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that attracts over 500,000 people each year.

WMU partnered with Hollywood-based, Emmy award-winning Mandt Bros. Productions to produce the video for the first-ever VR experience for a collegiate aviation program. The video, which uses a smart phone and is viewed through an interactive headset that fully encases a viewer’s vision, will immerse participants in the sights and sounds found at the College of Aviation.

In addition to witnessing one of the most sophisticated flight fleets in all of collegiate aviation, participants will also take a virtual tour of WMU's campus.  This virtual experience includes the newly renovated aviation maintenance labs, the state-of-the-art instructional flight simulators, and much more.  

It will be available to experience at WMU’s EAA Airventure booth, numbers 45 and 46, from July 25 to July 31. 

“Virtual reality is allowing us to tell our story through emerging technology and we are excited to launch the WMU aviation video at such a prominent event,” said Tom Thinnes, WMU’s College of Aviation director of recruitment and outreach.

Individuals interested in learning more about WMU’s College of Aviation can visit www.wmich.edu/aviation or to speak with an Aviation Ambassador, please call 269-964-6375.

Beginning July 25, prospective students can request a free WMU College of Aviation VR headset to view the video on any smart phone device at their convenience. Headsets will be available online at wmich.edu/gearupwithgold.