It has taken quite some time, but technology giant Google can now lay claim to owning an airfield that they can make use of, at least for a prolonged period of time. Why do we say so? Google’s very own Planetary Ventures wing has decided to sign a lease with NASA which would enable it to manage the Moffett Federal Airfield.
The entirety of the Moffett Federal Airfield would include a trio of hangars, a couple of runways, and heck, why not throw in a golf course for good measure? After all, executives do happen to love to have their very own spot of golf, don’t they? The entire deal would span a whopping six decades, and that would require Google to fork out $6.3 million each year for upkeep, with the entire lease costing $1.16 billion in all. Sounds astronomical, but not really for a company of Google’s size and stature, this is for sure.
In this particular agreement, it is also said that Google will pledge up to $200 million in order to restore the hangars, while working on an educational building which would highlight the airfield’s role in Silicon Valley’s past. What else do you think that Google will do with this newly rented airfield? Will we see more prototypes of Project Loon make their way there? [Press Release]