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Innovation

I'm Google, fly me!

More from Deep Thrust, my overseas aviation correspondent, on GoogleAir. The G-boys have been busy while waiting for the million-dollar dent in their second-hand Boeing 757 to be bashed out at Gulfstream, and have negotiated a deal with NASA to let them keep the fleet at one of the spacemen's airfields.
Written by Rupert Goodwins, Contributor

More from Deep Thrust, my overseas aviation correspondent, on GoogleAir. The G-boys have been busy while waiting for the million-dollar dent in their second-hand Boeing 757 to be bashed out at Gulfstream, and have negotiated a deal with NASA to let them keep the fleet at one of the spacemen's airfields. They get landing and storage privs, while NASA crew can borrow the birds when they're not being used for whatever it is that Google uses them for.

That's not the news from Deep Thrust, though. Barely pausing to wipe the rain from his flying goggles, he reports that the company is upgrading the Gulfstream Vs to Gulfstream G550s - the longest range business jets in the business, with more tech than you can shake a browser at - and, furthermore, Larry, Sergei and Eric are to get one apiece. Well, a private jet's like a toothbrush, isn't it? You hate to have to share. Not the done thing.

However, trusty Thrusty continues, some obscure company hierarchy is coming into play. While Eric's getting his shiny new toy in November, Lazza and Serge are having to wait until March. Doubtless there are good reasons to do with whatever stratospheric fiscal machinations go into acquiring this sort of thing, and if I had a Gulfstream V, a 757 and a 767 to play with while waiting I'd probably be prepared to accept a March deadline without too much fuss. Yet I think we can tell who's in charge here.

One small problem remains. They've only got permission for four jets at Moffett Field - where are they going to park the fifth?

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