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Facebook ready to spread Internet drone’s giant wings

The giant social network says it will begin test flights later this year for a solar-powered drone with a wingspan bigger than a Boeing 737’s, in the next stage of its campaign to deliver Internet connectivity to remote parts of the world.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Facebook says it will begin test flights later this year for a solar-powered drone with a wingspan bigger than a Boeing 737’s, in the next stage of its campaign to deliver Internet connectivity to remote parts of the world.

Engineers at the giant social network say they’ve built a drone with a 140-foot wingspan that weighs less than 1,000 pounds.