Facebook performs successful flight with Aquila internet drone

Facebook has successfully completed a flight and landing with its Aquila internet drone. It is the first time that the entire flight went smoothly. Ultimately, Aquila must provide internet access to people in remote areas.

Compared to the maiden flight at the end of December, Facebook had put “spoilers” on the wings, applied a smoother finish to the drone and modified the autopilot software, the social network reports. This flight on May 22 lasted a total of one hour and 45 minutes. The first test flight in December was less successful. The right wing broke on landing.

The internet drones have to fly at altitudes between 18 and 27 kilometers, well above where regular airplanes fly. As a result, they should not be bothered by storms. A balloon should take them to those heights. The power comes from solar panels. They should last two to three months per flight.

The drones send the signal to the ground, where dishes and antennas have to receive it and convert it into regular WiFi or mobile networks that work with current smartphones, tablets and laptops. A single drone must cover an area with a radius of fifty kilometers.