Experimental Facebook drone experienced structural failure on approach
 

This appears to have happened last July, but only being reported now. Anyone know more?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...f-safety-probe

I am surprised that there are no more comments on this - not too sure on high altitude aerodynamics but surely it would have been better to adopt the standard "bird" layout ie tail and tripod landing capability ... ? The take-off looked pretty good but ??? Also looking forward to see where the structural failure initiated ... root bending moments perhaps ...

The drone is intended to be solar powered eventually, and a 'flying wing' design is in theory the most aerodynamically efficient configuration (the least amount of drag).