Weather conditions were ideal today, so the Solar Impulse prototype could leave the hangar for the first time and pass ground testing outside – under the supervision of Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier who is head of the test team. The Solar Impulse team towed the aircraft outside of the hangar, put the vertical stabilizer on and started all 4 engines to full power to test the electromagnetic interference by measures taken around the aircraft while the engines were on.

A greater success! Test pilot Markus Scherdel did not take off today, but will soon…Test your inquisitiveness!

First pictures of the prototype’s first “excursion” to the runway can be found here.