HGFA Skysailor Magazine

12 SKY SAILOR July | August 2019 lets me know its over.’ Sometimes, I think it’ll be a while – she’s still looking good, I keep her well tuned and cared for. Our relationship is still good. If I get to test fly the new Volt3, I’ll make sure to not mention it in front of her… Postscript This article was done and dusted, I sent it to Mark at Cloudbase for a preview, and ‘lo and behold’: a demo Volt3 arrived in the post. “Fly it and tell me what you think of it, no strings!” He said. First thing I noticed was how light and small the package was. Once unwrapped, the new 50/50 concertina pack bag defies belief, ‘Where is the rest of it?’ I thought. Out of the bag, the fabric and line set is a step into a new world for me, the fabric technology is evident – space age stuff. It had me thinking, ‘Wow, what a beast,’ even before flying it. Launch time: Whilst I spread out the wing and walked back with the line set, I realised how reduced the volume of lines feel in my hands, even from the Volt2 – it’s like another third is gone, another, ‘Wow, how do they do it? It’s amazing!’ AirDesign have jumped another cog with their latest models, even the new Volt3 is a total re-design of the previous model, it’s evident they’ve taken their high performance wing, the Hero, and implanting its tech in the models below. From the first launch at my local coastal site, this is a glider I know already – up without a fuss and easily controllable. Being lighter, it actually comes up faster if you want it to, which actually comes in handy at times. My first moments with the wing above my head are just a little more exciting than usual, ‘What’s this thing all about?’ Being lighter, it’s more responsive, it’s reacting quicker to every little nuance in the wind. Not overreacting, just reacting. It reminded me of the time I first sat on a Suzuki GSR750, a high pitched bumblebee, it’s tuned and buzzing away ready for blast off. The Volt3 was like that, it just wants to take flight, it’s got a drive to it. More brake is required to keep it checked on launch, no drama, it just wants to go. Whilst I have not yet taken the Volt3 thermaling, I like to mine out small thermal veins of lift on the coast. I do notice it has a good nose, like the prior model, and like those well-dressed Beagles at the airport. It will sniff out even the smallest amount of lift, almost like an autopilot, and I believe it will be amongst the top social climbers of its class. On the Volt3 I find myself consistently higher than my company of regular wingmen, in both light and strong conditions. It definitely has more climb, more glide, more penetration and more speed than the previous model. Not just a little, but a lot – it’s noticeable and has put a big smile on my dial. When Mark phones me again to see what I think about the new Volt3, I’m gonna tell him he’s committed a crime sending me this wing – entrapment. I’m gonna name it Victor! 400 Hours Point Hillier, WA Photos: Julian Bryant Bunbury sunset