Mass Virtual Partners with Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation to Bring Airborne History to Life Through Virtual Reality
Fayetteville, NC – Visitors to this year’s National Airborne Day celebration at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum (ASOM) will get a sneak peek of the future of next-generation military history experiences. Mass Virtual, a leader in advanced virtual reality solutions, is partnering with the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation to create a first-of-its-kind VR experience that will transport guests into the heart of airborne operations.
Slated for full launch in spring 2026, the experience blends real-world footage, interactive storytelling, and breathtaking visuals to honor the legacy of the Airborne and Special Operations community while inspiring and educating future generations.
“Our investment in next-generation virtual reality technology allows us to bring those stories to life in a powerful, engaging way that connects visitors to the courage, skill, and dedication of the Airborne and Special Operations Soldiers,” said Renee Lane, Executive Director of the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation.
The project reflects a shared commitment between the ASOM Foundation and Mass Virtual: to connect the public with the history, challenges, and triumphs of the Airborne and Special Operations world through innovative, hands-on experiences. “Together with Mass Virtual we’re building an unforgettable opportunity to bridge generations and inspire new audiences,” said Lane.
“As a retired Soldier who called Fort Bragg home, jumping, serving, and living the Special Operations and Airborne life, this project hits close to the heart,” said Billy Webb, senior director of business development for Mass Virtual. “We’re fusing the Airborne and Special Operations legendary heritage with next-generation VR technology to build something unforgettable, something that truly connects people to the spirit and legacy of the Airborne and Special Operations Soldier.”
During the National Airborne Day festivities, visitors will have the opportunity to try on VR headsets and experience a short demonstration, offering a glimpse into the groundbreaking project.
“Working with the ASOM Foundation team isn’t just a privilege; it’s a chance to shake up how history is shared, learned, and lived,” Webb added. “We’re not just honoring the past; we’re launching a new way for future generations to experience what it means to be Airborne.”
“This VR experience is just the beginning. Thanks to the ASOM Foundation, we’re upgrading how Soldiers and the public engage with our exhibits … deepening the stories our exhibits and artifacts tell of the Army’s elite Airborne and Special Operations Soldiers, not replacing them,” said Jim Bartlinski, director of ASOM and the Fort Bragg Museums.
The U.S. Army Center of Military History, in partnership with the Foundation embarked on a multiyear project to modernize the museum’s twenty-five-year-old exhibits. Bartlinski said “VR is the ASOM’s first step toward a more immersive, 21st-century museum.”
About the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation:
The Airborne & Special Operations Museum Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization which provides community outreach and conducts private and public fundraising to sustain the Museum’s mission, ongoing programs and future innovative exhibit development. Located in downtown Fayetteville, the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum is part of the Army Museum Enterprise and is managed by the U.S. Army Center of Military History.
For more information about National Airborne Day and the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, visit www.asomf.org.
