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Friday, January 1, 2016

Air Design VOLT 2 SM


Air Design VOLT 2 SM

After test flying the Volt 1 and the Rise 2 from AD, here’s the Volt 2 in SM size .

The Volt 2 has lots of features, a shark nose profile, all unsheathed lines, vortex holes, adjustable brake handle, there’s 2 lines per side, and on each line level there are(2A, 2B, 2C) . The C lines are split into a fork for a C and D attachment on the glider.
The construction is very neat, and it looked very tough to the last detail.

Launching the Volt 2 is as easy as any moderate aspect ratio C glider, with no tendency to overshoot and an immediate take off.

The Volt 2 SM at 92 all up, has a moderate brake pressure, coupled with a direct, precise steering power. The Volt 2 has a superior agility over the Rise 2 and the Volt 1and can be described as fairly agile. Coring thermals are really pleasant as precise turns can be adjusted with each pulled centimeter.
I believe the Volt 2 is the first improvement in Air Design gliders, that goes in the right way concerning agility and pleasurable feel.

The second feel-able improvement flying the VOLT 2 is the climb rate !
Well, I can tell you, that team Air Design outdone themselves this time with a glider that can climb in weak conditions very efficiently, putting it next to best climbing ones in the C category !

Stephan Stiegler's gliders for the B and C class have a reputation of being comfortable to fly. And flying the Volt 2 in moderate conditions felt quite comfortable, resembling the Elan, Sigma 9, and other moderate aspect ratio C glider.

The trim speed is around 39 km/h at my loading and the top speed in the first part of the 50’s .
The glide ratio is good and on par with those C gliders mentioned above.

Big ears are efficient , stable, and a good way to get down. They open smoothly .

The Speed bar has a moderate pressure and the speed is fully usable in moderate turbulence.
The handles on the C to control the pitch in accelerated flight is very efficient. In fact AD has the most efficient C steering capability among many gliders i have tested. If you have flown a Rise 2 you will know what i mean, and the Volt 2 C steering is as efficient and usable !

Conclusion:
I always favor climb capability over glide capability.
It is always better to arrive "comfortably" 10 m lower and still flying, rather than 10 m higher and not being able to catch that low save.

For me the VOLT 2 SM will be an Air Design success by the amount of coring pleasure, comfort, and climb capabilities.
It gave me a feeling of a tough, well built, reliable C glider any good pilot coming to the C category would be satisfied flying it !

 

9 comments:

flythomas said...

You not think they are a bit slow at trim

Ziad Bassil said...

Slightly. .like Carrera plus.

flyhigh said...

I'm testing the Volt 2 S at the moment with 81kg loaded. But its not possible to fly faster than 50 km/h in full speed. From a EN-C I'd exspected little bit more. What are your impressions about speed and glide ration? And what about the glide ratio with 1/2 speed?

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi, Sorry for the late reply...The top speed is like you found. The glide at half bar is similar to the Delta 2 on the same size.

Unknown said...

hi ziad!
how much take off weight(overload) on the SM, do you think, would be acceptable without risking higher sinkrate? the size of the glider irritates me a bit...

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi Rai,
I think 95, 97 is still ok...
Cheers,
Ziad

Victor Scali said...

Ciao Ziad,
Deine 3-4 StartplΓ€tze sind wo ? Koordinaten ?
I love all your Comments ...stay crunchy ...V.S.

Unknown said...

I am 75kg is it good for m size volt2. Because loading limit is between 80 105kg volt 2 m size. 75kg(me)+15kg(harness+reserve+glider)=90kg. Is it good for me?

Ziad Bassil said...

Hi,
I think it's better at top weight. If you want get the SM which goes to 95 max.it would be better.
Cheers