Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
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NASA gives Google founders a coveted parking place for their private jet
By Miguel Helft
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO: In the annals of perks enjoyed by American corporate executives, the founders of Google may have set a new standard: an un-crowded, federally-managed runway for their private jet that is as close as can be to being in the company's own backyard.
It is a perk that is likely to turn other Silicon Valley tycoons green with envy, but one that may not sit well with a community that generally considers itself proud to have Google in its midst.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirmed earlier this week that H211, a limited liability company that counts Google's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, as one of its principals, had secured rights to operate a refurbished wide-body Boeing 767-200 out of Moffett Field, an airport that is run by NASA and is generally closed to private aircraft.
The Google founders and billionaires, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, through another limited liability company, own just such a plane, which is unusually large and rare by private jet standards.
Moffett Field is nearly adjacent to Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, and the four-mile, or 6.5 kilometer, drive between the two facilities takes just seven minutes, according to Google Maps. Other Silicon Valley executives have to make do with space for their jets at San Francisco or San Jose international airports.
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Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
why? is google padding NASA's budget?
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
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Originally Posted by cancidas
why? is google padding NASA's budget?
We can only wish....
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
Apparently NASA gets to put scientific instruments on all or some of the Google founders' jets.
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
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Originally Posted by NcSchu
Apparently NASA gets to put scientific instruments on all or some of the Google founders' jets.
any idea what kind of equipment?
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
I wonder if Larry Ellison and the rest are going to start looking for similar deals...
FYI apparetly TAG operates the 767 for them and under various flight numbers, e.g.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/TAG24
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/TAG116
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
I did 1 minute of research on Google (the company) on Google (the search engine) and found a 2005 press release that would explain quite clearly why NASA is hooking them up. Puzzling that the article does not mention it...
"NASA and Google have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation on a variety of areas, including large-scale data management, massively distributed computing, bio-info-nano convergence, and encouragement of the entrepreneurial space industry. The MOU also highlights plans for Google to develop up to 1 million square feet within the NASA Research Park at Moffett Field."
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/r ... _50AR.html
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
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Originally Posted by Nonstop2AUH
Not all of their flights though. Sometimes they arrive here in EWR with the Tag callsign or uses N2767. A trend I've noticed is it looks like they use Tag only when flying domestically.
Re: Google Jet Receives Coveted Parking Spot
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Originally Posted by cancidas
Quote:
Originally Posted by NcSchu
Apparently NASA gets to put scientific instruments on all or some of the Google founders' jets.
any idea what kind of equipment?
The NYT article doesn't say, it only quotes "NASA officials" as saying that was the case. The Ames Research Center, which is based at the airport, will be in charge of the research.
