Facebook’s internet plane Aquila takes first flight

Aquila, Facebook's solar powered drone plane

Facebook has completed the first test flight of its solar-powered drone plane as part of a project to bring the internet to remote regions of the world.

The social network’s founder Mark Zuckerberg announced on his Facebook page that Aquila, built in Somerset, flew for 96 minutes in Arizona.

The company hopes to have a fleet of Aquilas capable of flying for at least three months to make the web available to millions who cannot get online.

The Aquila has the wingspan of a Boeing 737 but weighs about the same as a grand piano.

It can fly at 80mph and uses about 5,000W of power at cruising height. Mr Zuckerberg said the next step will be making them lighter so they can fly longer and are able to reach a cruising height of 60,000ft.

Facebook is also working on communications networks allowing rapid transfer of data and lasers that can accurately fire down internet signals without dropping the connection.

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