Mountain View (CA) - A company that is controlled by some of Google’s top executives, including co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have recently purchased a new plane to add to their already well equipped hangar. The new purchase is a Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet, which has been used as a light and compact jet attack and advanced trainer aircraft primarily in Europe.

The company responsible for operating the private jets of Brin, Page and chief executive Eric Schmidt, H211 LLC, currently maintains a Boeing 757, purchased in 2007, as well as a Boeing 767 and two Gulfstream V jets. All planes have have landing rights at Moffett field, a NASA owned and operated airfield close to Google’s campus.

According to the Mountain View Voice, the jet had been spotted multiple times at Moffet Field and aviation records state that H211 LLC registered a Dornier Alpha Jet made in 1982.  

Google, as a company, claims to have no relationship with H211 LLC, and also states that they do not own any of the airplanes. However, it was reported that the Alpha Jet is currently being outfitted for use by NASA with scientific instruments that other planes are not capable of carrying. “Because of the type of aircraft we are talking about, NASA now has the ability to do even more than they could before,” Matt Furman, a Google spokesman told the New York Times.

The New York Times recently filed a Freedom of Information Act request with NASA, prompting the release of documents that explained the lease agreement between NASA and H211 LLC. Dolores Beasley, a NASA spokeswoman sent an e-mail to the NY Times and stated: “The agreement was amended to support a recent science mission–observation of the re-entry of the European Space Agency’s “Jules Verne” Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). Additional amendments are in progress in regards to the Alpha jet.”

It is a fine line, as far as Google’s involvement with H211 LLC is concerned, and it isn’t exactly clear who owns or flies the fighter jet. However, it is known that Eric Schmidt is an avid pilot. If it turns out that the Google execs do own the jet, then they are in good company in Silicon Valley. For example, Oracle’s Larry Ellison has owned many different planes including fighter jets in the past.

In its standard configuration, the 43 ft long Alpha jet can carry two people and is powered by two Snecma Turbomeca Larzac turbofans, delivering 3000 lbf each. The plane has a maximum speed of 621 mph and a range of about 1740 miles.

Beginning of the end

Oct 24, 2008 12:38     

Dumb stuff like this usually signals the beginning of the end for the stock. Watch out if your buying this thing at $300 a share.
Action Jackson report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Waiting for the news

Oct 24, 2008 13:06     

A slight accident happened... Google founders are dead...
Nut report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

thats when you know they have too much money

Oct 24, 2008 14:07     

They don't know what to do with it. Who the heck would go out and buy a fighter jet...come on now.
dumbo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

Come on now!

Oct 24, 2008 15:38     

Give the execs a break...I mean how else are they going to flee the country fast enough after selling Google off dirt cheap and ripping off all the shareholders!
Brent report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Just a thought

Oct 24, 2008 17:35     

Why don't they put there money to good use create a Mortgage Division to buy up bad Mortgages? I'm just wondering how much they paid for it. Is this a sign of Google domination of the World. Before you know it, Google Execs will have a military. Probably going to do an air strike on Redmond.
afstech report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +2

Hardly a Jet fighter

Oct 24, 2008 18:21     

To call an Alpha jet a jet fighter is like calling a Moped an Harley. This plane is usually the first jet powered plane a pilot in trainning will touch, before moving on to the real fighters.
Chimo report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

Yes, it is ;)

Oct 27, 2008 07:57     

The Alpha Jet is a jet fighter. It was launched in the late 1960s as a light attack fighter. Of course you can't compare it with today's fighters. There are many flight- and weapons training versions of course, but that does not make it less of a jet fighter for its day.
Will report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Quit your whining

Oct 27, 2008 10:21     

Why don't you all stop whining about what they buy? Who cares what they spend THEIR money on? To tell someone with money how to spend it is just stupid. I think they should buy a tank next, that would rock.
Rhodenator report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Should of spent a lil more

Oct 27, 2008 11:36     

If your going to spend millions of dollars on a jet might as well get one that can at least beat mach one haha its like buying a veyron with only 4 cylinders - next purchase should be F-22 haha
Callan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0