[GraffitiTim]

We're building a VR simulation of flying specifically for the purpose of overcoming fear of flying. It uses some of the same principles you mention:

-Repeated exposure to a realistic flying experience (in our case, it goes gradually since it's designed for people with a fear)

-Specifically learning about some of the different noises planes make

-Getting exposure to the vibrations, noises, turbulence, etc that you'll encounter on a real flight

And on top of that, we teach various techniques for overcoming the fear, give new logical/rational approaches to reinforce how safe flying is, understanding the underlying anxieties and emotions involved in fear of flying, etc.

But we don't teach you how to fly! That would be a very neat addition.

The company is called Fearless. I put up a little Fearless for Flying survey here for anyone interested: https://goo.gl/forms/11dINvQlgSnvOaQE2

[rubicon33]

Please, please, please, please complete this project. Like the OP, I have an ever increasing, ever debilitating, downright crippling fear of flying. It's only getting worse as I get older, and I'm already missing out on opportunities because of it.

I have an Oculus Rift, and would happily pay for such a simulator.

[GraffitiTim]

Thank you rubicon33. Did you fill out the survey linked above? If so I'll let you know when it's ready.

[eblanshey]

I've been thinking about the huge potential of VR to help overcome the fear of flying for years, no joke. Glad to see someone has taken up the task! Good luck to you!

[GraffitiTim]

Thanks eblanshey. Let me know if you have any ideas about it!

[eblanshey]

I think that, if properly executed, you could definitely get huge traction with proper marketing and I have some ideas there. You can integrate and partner with airlines, selling fear-specific software via app stores, etc.

Another major marketing platform is becoming a sponsor of height-based sports, such as rock-climbing and paragliding competitions, or their respective national organizations (such as USHPA).

Hell, some organizations like USHPA may even want to partner with you instead of necessarily you becoming a sponsor. A lot of these organizations could bolster their memberships using new methods of outreach with your help. USHPA is one of the many organizations that I can think of that has a hard time getting peoples' new interest because people think of hang gliding and paragliding as "crazy". Most people, when asked why they don't want to do it, have fear of flight or heights as the main reason.

In short, look to the industries that would benefit from people overcoming their fears. Partner with them, sponsor them, whatever. Create outreach material with them, such as brochures or videos about their sport or niche, and have a plug for your software. Offer a free x-month subscription to your VR app with all new organization memberships. Or do it the other way around: getting a subscription or purchase to your VR app automatically gets you X% discount with partnered trainers in multiple sports: paragliding, hang gliding, sky-diving, GA, etc. Have partnerships with trainers where you send referrals to each other. Use marketing terms like "Always wanted to try X but were always too afraid? Start living life!" I could see that being a successful Facebook or Instagram ad.

I just recalled I wrote an article[0] about my vision of the future in which I mentioned using VR for overcoming fears. If you ever want to chat feel free to reach out to me via the contact details there. Good luck!

[0] https://medium.com/@eblanshey/the-world-is-undergoing-massiv...

[ChicagoBoy11]

Where can I learn more about you/your company? I'm a school administrator but also a private pilot with a background in digital learning design and a huge flight sim geek -- HTC Vive Pro, P3D, and the whole lot. Super interested in this space. Would love to know how I can learn more.

[GraffitiTim]

Thank you! You can reach out tim at fearlessvr.com

[stavros]

I like the GP's point that you should also show how hard it is to crash the plane. Otherwise, people won't really have an idea of the margin of "weird noise" they have before getting to an actually threatening situation.

[arisAlexis]

please make it in VR I will buy it for my mother I promise