Textron Aviation faced the challenge of introducing their first-ever super-mid sized category aircraft, the Cessna Citation Longitude, to the public.
However, demo flights and full-scale build-outs were expensive and not a viable option to cost-effectively showcase the aircraft and its various customization options to a broad audience. In response, Textron Aviation needed to come up with an innovative way to create buzz and gain a foothold in this competitive category.
To address this, Sector 5 Digital (S5D), a Glimpse Group subsidiary came up with a unique solution. S5D created a Virtual Reality experience that offered users the chance to fly from New York to Paris. By leveraging the HTC Vive VR headset along with an actual seat from the aircraft, users were able to experience a 1:1 representation of the real thing.
In addition, noise-cancelling headphones were provided to allow users to compare the cabin noise level of the Longitude to its main competitors. This multi-sensory approach created a deep and memorable immersive experience for users.
The aircraft debuted at NBAA 2017 with a powerful combination of static demo aircraft and Virtual Reality, which caught the attention of many prospective buyers. Following the positive reception at NBAA, Textron Aviation took the experience on a 50 city road tour as well as a tour of the Asia-Pacific region.
Overall, the virtual reality experience proved to be a highly effective selling tool, helping Textron Aviation to generate interest in their new aircraft and gain traction in a highly competitive market.