Facebook scraps plans to build internet drones

Project Aquila aircraft were designed to
beam web signals to remote areas

One-Minute Read

The drones, dubbed Project Aquila, have been unable to achieve
the long flight times that rivals such as Google have managed with
similar aircraft, the BBC reports.

One of Facebook’s development drone also suffered a broken
wing as it came into land during testing. 

In a blog post yesterday, the company’s
engineering chief, Yael Maguire, said: “It’s been exciting to
see leading companies in the aerospace industry start investing in
this technology too, including the design and construction of new
high-altitude aircraft.

“Given these developments, we’ve decided not to design or
build our own aircraft any longer.”

Maguire confirmed that Facebook’s development facility in
Bridgwater, Somerset, would close.

Project Aquila had reportedly experienced “significant internal
turmoil” over its four-year lifespan, including the departure of
Andrew Cox, a key engineer in the operation, says Gizmodo.

However, while the company is no longer trying to develop
internet drones in-house, Project Aquila will continue through the
tech giant’s partners,  including French aerospace firm
Airbus, reports The Verge.