Solar-powered plane takes his first ride

The prototype of a solar-powered plane made its first trip on a tip from a Swiss airport to test its engines and computers.

This week, the aircraft traveled at least two kilometers at a speed of five knots.

As wide as a jumbo jet, but with a weight of just 1,500 kg, the spacecraft will be piloted in the future by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard.

The first flight of the aircraft is scheduled for next February, and when the prototype is eventually approved, will try to cross the Atlantic in 2012.

The plane ride was conducted with a security attachment below the cockpit to protect the ship where the landing gear was damaged.

In the next test, the aircraft made the same journey, but this attachment, and is intended to reach a speed of 10 knots.

As Wright

A spokeswoman for the construction company, Solar Impulse, said the first route of the plane on the runway was as planned.

"It was fantastic. We are all happy and excited," he told the BBC.

"If these tests are successful, the next step will be a short flight, a leap into the air, and this is done within two weeks," he said.

"We will start the flight at one end of the runway, so that the ship is lifted for a few feet above the pavement, just like they did the Wright Brothers in 1903, and then the helicopter landed. We want to see how it behaves commencement of flight, "he told the BBC the CEO of Solar Impulse, Andre Borschberg.

If everything is satisfactory, "we're going to disassemble and transport it to a military base in western Switzerland, where he undertook the first flight seriously, about two hours, next February," he said.