Case Study: U.S. Air Force immerses recruits in in-flight refueling training with Wildlife VR experience

U.S. Air Force launches 30,000-foot VR refueling experience with Wildlife

The U.S. Air Force, in collaboration with agency GSD&M, engaged the vendor Wildlife to create a cutting-edge virtual reality experience for its mobile touring exhibit, "The Hangar." The challenge was to design an immersive VR simulation that would give the public a firsthand, thrilling look into the demanding role of an In-Flight Refueling Specialist, showcasing it as a compelling career path.

Wildlife developed a gamified VR experience using the Meta Quest 2 headset, Leap Motion hand-tracking, and custom-built physical pods with joysticks and rumble seats. The solution featured realistic aircraft and environments, with audio guidance from real Airmen, allowing visitors to virtually perform mid-air refueling procedures on advanced aircraft like the F-35 and B-2. This implementation by Wildlife successfully provided a hands-on, nationwide attraction that demonstrated the technical skills required for the role in an engaging way.

U.S. Air Force