Facebook just announced the successful test flight of its solar-powered drone in the Arizona desert. This successful test at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground military facility comes almost one year after the first test flight crashed, and failed.
The drone flew for 1 hour and 46 minutes and landed perfectly, according to Facebook's director of aeronautical platforms. An earlier version of Aquila was substantially damaged in a crash over Arizona last year. Facebook tweaked the design and the new version includes hundreds of sensors to record details about flight performance.
Facebook representatives said Aquila will beam internet access to unconnected parts of the world. The drone’s wingspan is longer than a Boeing 737's. It’s designed to stay aloft for months at a time at altitudes of roughly 60,000 feet. The company says it requires the same amount of energy to run as three hair dryers.
