Solar-powered aeroplane takes to the runway

A prototype of the world’s first solar-powered aeroplane had its initial runway outing yesterday in Switzerland, hitting speeds of up to five knots and covering 2km.

Further tests will take place today to see whether the plane, which is as wide as a jumbo jet but weighs the same as a medium-sized car at just 1,500kg, can hit 10 knots when taxiing without the support of a security trolley device under the cockpit. The device, which was used yesterday, was intended to protect it in case the landing gear broke.

The aim is to give the test pilot, Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard – who came up with the idea after flying the first hot air balloon in the shape of Breitling Orbiter 3 around the world in 1999 – a feel for how the plane moves on the ground.

If the tests are successful, the next step will be to make a short flight or "flea hop" a few metres above the runway in about two weeks time in order to see how it behaves at the start of a flight.

The aeroplane is scheduled to take its maiden voyage, which is expected to last for two hours, in February and, if all goes well, a final version will attempt to cross the Atlantic in 2012.

The plane was designed and built by the Solar Impulse Foundation, with the aim of demonstrating what can be achieved using renewable energy in order to encourage its use. The foundation was created by Piccard and the director of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland and is overseen by the Swiss government. It receives funding from a range of companies such as Omega and Deutsche Bank and individuals.