Facebook unveils more details about solar-powered drone Aquila

Facebook's ambitious drone plans just got a little more real.

The social network on Thursday revealed more details about Aquila, the airplane-sized solar-powered drone first teased at this year's F8 conference back in March

Named after the eagle in Greek mythology who carried Jupiter's thunderbolts, the Aquila drone is a beast. The V-shaped, carbon fiber-layered prototype weighs between 880 lbs. and 1,000 lbs. — roughly the equivalent of a Toyota Prius — with a wingspan comparable to a Boeing 737 and is capable of flying at altitudes between 60,000 feet and 90,000 for three months at a time, Facebook global head of engineering Jay Parikh explained at an event at Facebook's Menlo Park headquarters Read more...