Facebook announces first flight of its internet beaming drone

Facebook is announcing their first test flight of its first Aquila drone. It flew for 96 minutes, more than three times longer than Facebook engineers planned.

Aquila is essentially one big wing, spanning 113 feet and weighing less than the average car. The entire drone is run by a computer, which engineers refer to as “autopilot.” For takeoff, Aquila was strapped onto a dolly and hurled down a runway.

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When the computer sensed that the drone was moving fast enough to take off, the straps were cut, and Aquila reached for the sky.

Aquila isn’t meant to be a speedy drone—its cruising speed is a leisurely 25 mph. That leisure (and the aerodynamic design of the aircraft) cuts back on battery. Aquila used less than 2,000 watts of power during the test flight, a little more than a standard microwave.

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