A New Fighter Jet for Google’s Founders?

ken · on Oct 25, 2008

I wonder if they're going to put a "Beta" label on their new Alpha Jet. Also, which control in the cockpit is going to be labeled "I'm Feeling Lucky".

nostrademons · on Oct 25, 2008

Presumably, the eject button.

woodsier · on Oct 25, 2008

Well played.

ken · on Oct 25, 2008

I'm embarrassed that this, and an arithmetic correction, are 2 of my 3 highest-rated comments from the past month. Please stop upmodding this stupid crap I post when I'm tired. I'd delete it, if I could.

mixmax · on Oct 25, 2008

Presumably no attacks on Microsoft are planned at this time.

:-)

benbeltran · on Oct 25, 2008

A flight over cupertino is in order though, for the interests of the android platform.

scorxn · on Oct 25, 2008

Ask PG: Does clicking on this bullshit actually improve the parent's rank, to any minuscule degree? If so, I have to be much more cautious.

pg · on Oct 25, 2008

ksvs · on Oct 25, 2008

I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them is planning to fly it. I believe this plane is the default choice among individuals who want to learn to fly jet fighters.

jkneib · on Oct 25, 2008

...and for the Patrouille de France (http://www.patrouilledefrance.com). Nice gallery btw.

vaksel · on Oct 25, 2008

if Red Bull can own one, why not Google?

Maktab · on Oct 25, 2008

Technically, it's the founders (Page and Brin) who bought the jet, not Google. The company itself has no financial links to Page & Brin's aircraft fleet.

Which makes it even less interesting as a story, of course. If two billionaires want to by an ex-military jet, who cares? It's their money.

Besides, the Alpha Jet's main role will be as a scientific instrumentation platform for NASA's use, as part of the agreement Brin & Page have with NASA for the use of Moffet Field. It was originally planned to place instrumentation on each of their executive aircraft (including a 767 and a 757), but this ran into serious certification problems. Being classified as an 'experimental' aircraft, NASA will have far more leeway in what it can or can't do to the Alpha Jet in terms of add-ons and modifications.