Air internet arriving

The idea by Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, to bring the internet to those parts of the world it hasn’t reached yet is one step closer to being realized, following a successful test flight of the company’s solar aircraft in the sky above the state of Arizona. This billionaire intends to use drones to provide a web connection for around four billion people throughout the world who are currently outside the global network.

This version of the drone, called Aquila, is equipped with a larger number of sensors and a propeller-stopping system, enabling it to land as safely as possible in case of a fall. It spent an hour and 46 minutes in the air, reaching the altitude of around 900 meters, which is far below Facebook’s ambitious goal of at least 18 kilometers above ground. A team of engineers monitored Aquila’s flight from a helicopter and determined that the changes had considerably improved the capabilities of the aircraft, compared to its previous version. The aircraft weighs 450 kilograms and its wingspan matches that of Boeing 747.

– We successfully gathered a lot of data to help us optimize Aquila's efficiency. No one has ever built an unmanned airplane that will fly for months at a time, so we need to tune every detail to get this right – Zuckerberg stated.

The previous test flight ended unsuccessfully, as the aircraft crashed to the ground, confused by a strong wind. Facebook didn’t notify the public about this before the case was investigated by those in charge.

Facebook.com USA

Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook

air internet