60-year, $1.16B lease
http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/11/technology/google-navy-blimp-hangar/
<added>
Remember this?
http://www.google.com/loon/
Fiber too slow to deploy. Global ISP?
I saw that this morning and wondered what the plan was. Loon likes like it yeah?
I have such mixed feelings about this. That hangar is a local landmark and could be seen from miles away. It is incredibly huge, when I was a teen I was at an air show where they actually had hot air balloons going up and down inside it. There was talk that they were going to tear it down. Apparently it was filled with asbestos, there was enough money to strip it, but not enough to rebuild. I'm glad it is being saved, too bad it is being fueled by PPC money.
If anybody is interested in reading about the place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangar_One_%28Mountain_View,_California%29
I guess loon testing, rather than a serious deployment.
I still think loon will provide fairly localised service. Based on the early numbers they released it would have required millions of balloons to cover africa alone. I don't think it is a global solution.
Maybe they'll sublet it to Musk
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/193959-musks-next-mission-blanketing-the-world-with-cheap-internet-access-via-700-low-orbit-satellites
https://gigaom.com/2014/11/17/google-partners-with-telstra-to-test-project-loon-in-australia/
I'm thinking 3 things
- Being an ISP... more data for them
- They're pretty paranoid about 3rd parties getting access to 'their' data
- At a certain altitude there's tax exemption, not sure how that plays out in the international arena
Are they still a one trick pony?
>pony
One trick with a little prancing on the side
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/technology/google-search-ad-growth-slows.html
>pony
They'll likely be a strong contender in the race for self-driving cars.
They'll likely be a strong contender in the race for robotics.
They'll likely build a computer that decides we're a threat to it.
So their prancing on the side is Skynet.
>Skynet
Pretty much.
>blimp hangar
What about the hangar in your back yard RC? That is still being used for blimps, right?
Not RC's hanger >> NO NO NO
They'll likely build a computer that decides we're a threat to it.
If it is EVIL they will DO IT
>your back yard RC? That is still being used for blimps, right?
What hangar??
...Oh, THAT hangar!
http://www.newbegun.com/tour/Airship_Hanger_02.php
http://www.newbegun.com/tour/Airship_Hanger.php
I think they are mostly doing areostats (tethered, no gondola for humans) being deployed for Mexico border surveillance.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/55/MarfaTX.jpg/450px-MarfaTX.jpg
The best man at our wedding flew a helicopter through this one...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Air_Station_Tustin
>helicopter
I gots a better story... I'll begin by saying that my home is located on the now-subdivided farm, The Eyrie, of Major Al Williams.
"Before the war, the Gulf Oil Co. had purchased several Grumman Biplane fighters, which were modified for aerobatics. For publicity purposes, these planes were flown by a retired military pilot, Major AL Williams. They were stationed at Roosevelt Field on Long Island, NY and were called Gulfhawks. These airplanes were painted bright orange, with the Gulf Oil Co. logo on the wings. Al Williams would occasionally give a little show at Roosevelt Field (airport), including flying down the runway upside down, about 10' above the ground."
http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/grumman_bearcat.php
OR
100,000 At British Show Thrilled By Al Williams
" A radio commentator described Major Williams' upside down flying as 'the most terrifying thing I have ever seen'"
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19380626&id=XysbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BE0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5514,3216060
But that's just background.
He was here at the hangars (there were two or it may have even been the MUCH smaller hangars at the nearby USCG base) and some of the younger pilots were bragging about their flying prowess. He ordered them to open the hangar doors on both ends, line up in two lines flanking the entrance, and wait for him.
As he approached in his Grumman and was just over the runway a few feet up, he did a barrel-roll and flew through the hangar upside-down ...with both hands held over (or would that be under?) his head, which meant he was controlling the joystick with his knees. He was reprimanded but he didn't have to put up with their bragging any more.
Yeah, THAT hangar, the big f-ing concrete thingy next door, hehe. I remember you told me the numbers and it's HUGE. Wasen't the old built in wood next to it?
Getting all worked up about hangars and blimps, I think I need a trip to the Carolinas to get my Southern Fix. Long over due.
Quote from: Rumbas on November 19, 2014, 08:00:29 PM
Yeah, THAT hangar, the big f-ing concrete thingy next door, hehe. I remember you told me the numbers and it's HUGE. Wasen't the old built in wood next to it?
Getting all worked up about hangars and blimps, I think I need a trip to the Carolinas to get my Southern Fix. Long over due.
Let me know when you will be there and I will swing up from Florida. I was in Charlotte, NC and at Pinehurst last month and the more I go to North Carolina the more I like it.
Dras is getting cabin fever, as well. He suggested Savannah.
<added>
>wooden
Yeah, see those pylons in the 2nd photo? Those were the door jambs. It was the world's largest wooden building ...until we had the world's largest wooden building fire.
Hehehe, I remember that. Had to be quite a bonfire?
>quite a bonfire?
Yeah, it was in summer after weeks of drought and 100f/37c temps, The fire was started by some welding sparks at the top of the door, so there was no equipment tall enough to reach it. Firebrands were raining from the sky like some scene in an armageddon sci-fi movie but the local fire depts (many of them volunteer firemen) were able to contain it. They evacuated the neighborhood for about a mile around ...except for our house, as it was in a forested yard at the time and they missed us.
;D Savannah ;D
I'm in 4 THAT
>I'm in
Attendance by the usual riff-raff was assumed.
>loon
In light of recent headlines about EU proposals to break up the G monopoly and the related 'right to be forgotten (regionally)', loon may be a quest for statelessness.
>> statelessness
if there's one thing Google could do which would get the European public riled up against them I would say such a public attempt to avoid regulations/taxes/playing the game would be it.
We have a few issues at present around large corporates and Google is only escaping its share because there are companies people hate more to take the flak. There will be a tipping point if they keep on pushing.
Radio Free Google