The prototype of a solar-powered plane destined for a record round-the-world journey will make its first trip across a runway on Thursday and Friday.

This week saw the Solar Impulse plane outside its hangar for the first time, with tests of its engines and computer.

The plane's maiden flight is scheduled for February, and a final version will attempt to cross the Atlantic in 2012.

As wide as a jumbo jet but weighing just 1,500 kg, it will be piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard.

"It's very exciting, we are moving now toward a very concrete phase," said Solar Impulse chief executive Andre Borschberg.

"You have to realise this airplane is quite special and you cannot just put it on the runway, apply full power and go in the air – it has to be done really step-by-step," he told BBC News.

Wright stuff

To that end, the team has spent several days ramping the plane's engines up to full power, and the "taxiing tests" of Thursday and Friday will give the test pilot a feel for how the plane moves on the ground.

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