Facebook has announced the apparent first successful flight of Aquila. A High altitude, long endurance, solar airplane. Designed to offer internet connectivity to rural areas. We all know that internet access brings with it life-changing opportunities, information and experiences. According to estimates roughly 1.6 billion people today live in remote locations. Which poses a challenge with regards to no internet access to mobile and broadband networks. Facebook is seemingly always finding new ways to bring the world closer together and building new technology, like Aquila to help address these.
Responding to various tests and “functional checks” which were designed to verify Aquila’s operation and structure. Low Altitude flight was seen to have Aquila remain air born for 96 minutes. Which was reported as more than three times the minimum planned mission length. Assisting with gathering valuable data in helping improve its design and functionality. Apparently at cruise altitude, Aquila was only consuming 2000watts of power. Which believably equates to a hairdryer or high end microwave.
First Flight.
Proclaiming to accelerate its efforts in bringing internet connectivity to people around the world who are not yet online. Facebook is noted for their goal in contributing to prosperity, progress and development around the globe. The company expressed that they have reached a major milestone with the first full-scale test flight of an unmanned solar-powered airplane. That can bring internet to millions of people in hard-to-reach places.
The vision.
Completed, Aquila will allegedly be able to circle a region of up to 60 miles. Beaming connectivity down from a supposed altitude of 60 000 feet. Using laser communication and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is believed to fly for up to three months at a time.
The Aircraft.
The aircraft is reported to have a wingspan equivalent to an airliner, however at cruising speed it may only consume 5000 watts. Similarly the same as three hairdryers or a high-end microwave. Ostensibly, Facebook has flown a smaller scale of the aircraft for several months. But this was reported as the first flight in full scale.
To enable the validity of being able to fly over remote regions and deliver connectivity for up to three months at a time. Facebook will need to beat the world record of a solar-powered, unmanned flight. Which currently stands at two weeks. Requiring supposed significant advancements in science and engineering. Close work with governments, operators and partners will be needed to deploy these aircraft in regions where they will be most effective.
To view more information on the newsroom post, visit here: (http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2016/07/aquilas-first-flight-a-big-milestone-toward-connecting-billions-of-people/
