The Solar Impulse, a prototype aircraft being developed as part of a project to fly around the world on solar power, successfully underwent its first engine run up today in Switzerland. After waiting for calm winds and favorable weather, the team rolled the delicate aircraft out of the hangar Friday.

Just before noon local time, test pilot Markus Scherdel boarded HB-SIA, as the aircraft is officially known, and powered up the four electric motors. Initially Scherdel only ran the motors one at a time. But after testing each one individually, he was given the go ahead by engineers to run all four at 400 rpm — the power needed to taxi around the runway. For this first test, though, the pilot kept on the brakes and did not go anywhere.

“With its engines running at full power, it gave the impression of wanting to get off the ground straightaway…but it won’t be long now before we release the brakes and let it roll its first few meters,” said Solar Impulse co-founder Andre Borschberg.

The Solar Impulse team says tests will continue over the next several days including