THIS IS IT!!! 2 Liner EN C - AirDesign VOLT 4 Paraglider Review & EN D Comparison

[@flybubblecarlo]

Kudos to AirDesign for creating, certifying and manufacturing the first EN-C 2 liner - and for making it a true sports class wing! 👍

[@flybubblecarlo]

I still think there's a place for EN-C 3-liners, prioritising pleasurable handling and feeling - and lower pilot demands - over top performance in the sports class.

[@7up-weee]

Top reason to keep the 3 and 2.5 liner Cs! Also good to have a choice of bridge from high B going up the classes, otherwise it's typically quite a leap in AR. Not sure we'll see much lower than 6.5 AR in this new class - and that's quite a bit more cravat risk and span management required than with high Bs 5.6 or 5.7. You've covered those things in other videos of course - but it seems this will be quite the jump in both energy and span at the same time. Great review - thanks

[@flybubblecarlo]

@@7up-weee 👍😁

[@flybubblecarlo]

Although a few paraglider designers still believe there is a place for EN/LTF-D 3-liners, with true EN-C 2-liners like the Volt 4, and others to follow, I personally don't think there's much of a market for them any more. (Actually I don't think there has been for a year or two already.)

[@mikebyfield1]

Wow! A fantastic review. The additional focus on detail and the personal comparison with other wings is excellent. It’s contributions like this to the flying community that keep me and others as loyal customers. Thank you 🙂

[@flybubblecarlo]

Hey thanks Mike 🙏 I take that as a big compliment coming from you! 😀 (Huge congrats on all your fantastic XC flights this year - especially the 110km declared FAI triangle from Worcestershire Beacon on 9th August! Nancy and I wish we could've joined you on that one! As well as the flight itself, it would've been really great to share it with such good company as yourself - if we'd been able to keep up, that is! 🤗)

[@Ripstop_pilot]

A FAR more detailed and far better informed opinion of the Volt4 than my own. Your experience with the other C and D 3 or 2 liners makes this worth a listen. You've covered all details I have had many a discussion about with others. My next video was going to be the EN/LTF classification and where the older D gliders now really stand with the 2021 EN revision and how many would now be C class and does that mean someone moving to a 2 liner C should look at the older D class now? Food for thought. Nice vid. 👍

[@Itsallgoodtogo]

Looking forward to the Niviuk 2 liner C :) Also ... your explanation of agility at 20:20 is excellent. That puts a new perspective on the wavy wing gin is producing the boomerang 12.

[@flybubblecarlo]

I'm sure many other EN-C 2 liners will follow the Volt 4 - several have already been announced - and I expect the EN-C 2 liner class to become standard in future. Since if a pilot wants to fly an EN-C 2-liner they are probably looking for top performance in the sports class, I expect the designers will prioritise higher performance over lower pilot demands, at least for a while (a year or three). We'll see. As usual, I expect some brands will say their wing has lower pilot demands than most would actually agree it does. (Although aspect ratio only gives part of the picture, these brands' wings tend to have higher aspect ratios than others for the same class of wing.)

[@FlyPhiGuy]

I like your reviews across the board but I found this one even more useful with the comparison to other wings. Thanks!

[@FreeFlightGuy]

Love this review! Super detailed. Can clearly tell you took your time with this one. Nice work 😊

[@flybubblecarlo]

Thanks Charles 😁 It took four days and many hours of planning, filming and editing - and quite a bit of luck - to produce this video! 😅

[@flybubblecarlo]

Due to the many factors involved - many not under our control - even our shorter and less detailed reviews tend to take days and many hours to produce. ⏲ Due to technical failures some days are mostly or even completely lost! 😭 I'm hoping I will get better - and more efficient - at doing it in time! 🤞

[@flybubbleparagliding]

When testing wings, Carlo tries to fly them in a variety of conditions, at different points in the weight range and with different harnesses, to feel the differences. He varies his all-up weight by varying what he carries and the other gear e.g. the harness, reserve etc. For this review, Carlo tested the Volt 4 size M (88-103kg) at all-up weights ranging from 88-103kg i.e. the whole certified weight range, with the Advance IMPRESS 4, LIGHTNESS 3 and WEIGHTLESS. He mostly flew the Volt 4 M at around 96-102 kg all-up, with the LIGHTNESS 3 and IMPRESS 4. Depending on conditions, pilot preferences etc, he'd recommend flying the Volt 4 M from 90-103kg. As usual, in stronger conditions it's best flown heavier loaded, around 96-103kg all-up.

[@guyetlaurence7142]

Excellent review, right mix of technical details, analysis and pilot impression. Well done, thanks!!

[@KarolScibor]

I would like to add that there are only two 2-liners on the market for a very lightweight pilots. With my 72 kg all-up, Volt4 XXS was my first choice over the Klimber 2p ;-)

[@lifeintheair22]

I would like to hear a comparison with the advance sigma 11

[@emrecom7201]

Best V4 review ever

[@davidalhoff7190]

Thanks for the review and comparisson to other gliders! After that it sounds like I might want to take a look at the Phi scala also...

[@paraglidingpassion338]

Cool review Carlo 👍This could be the one for me 😁 maybe?

[@flybubblecarlo]

Thanks Rob! 😀 As for if this could be the wing for you, email us to discuss! 😎

[@iainferguson1684]

Thanks for the your comparison to other gliders of a round the same class. I think the comparison to the M7 for me was very interesting. I had 40+ on the LM7 but switched back to a Delta 4 as the Delta was a bit more faster, about the same glide and I just found the LM7 harder to turn tight so found not much to be gained from the LM7. This is the second in the 2 liner EN C class (Artik R) plus Gin and Ozone releasing 2 liner EN Cs In the spring. Having flown 350+ hours EN C's wings It will be interesting to see which will be my next glider will be in the spring. Thanks again for a great review.

[@flybubblecarlo]

Thanks Iain 🙏glad you found it interesting! 😀

[@flybubblecarlo]

Although I think the LM7 and M7 are of course very good gliders, I too find their handling a bit dull (for my personal taste) and their performance a little underwhelming (for the level of wing), as I indicated in my review of the M7. However I'm sure some others will feel differently. I think the Volt 4 offers at least as good performance as the M7 and LM7 (and probably more top speed, and better glide at top speed) for slightly lower pilot demands, and actually a bit more agile handling and better feedback (is my personal view).

[@iainferguson1684]

@@flybubblecarlo Thanks that is great to hear as I found the Delta 4 better all round than the LM7 so expecting the Volt 4 to be good step up in performance over the Delta 4.

[@flybubblecarlo]

Actually the Volt 4 is the first EN-C 2-liner - the first to be certified EN-C (now in all six sizes!) and available to buy. It's impressive that AirDesign have committed to making and certifying six sizes of an EN-C wing (generally, the higher the wing rating, the smaller the market) and a good indication that are very happy with this wing (putting their time and money where their mouth is). 🙂

[@flybubblecarlo]

@@iainferguson1684 The Volt 4 is definitely a very good step up in performance over the Delta 4, especially accelerated, (and I personally find it more enjoyable to fly, in terms of feeling and handling) but the pilot demands are higher.

[@lewisjohn892]

[Another] Great & insightful review - nice one!

[@FlyWithSergio]

Best review I ever see! Very nice thanks!

[@yanngallin2104]

Flew 50 hours with this glider, super safe and good handling overall! Performance are great but I wish it was faster at trimmed speed... And also glider needs to be checked and re-trimmed after 40-50 hours (outside lines are shrinking!)

[@ddascott]

I think you will find that most wings need trimming after 30-50 h when new

[@bergair]

I've checked mine after 60 hours. There was nothing to trim and everything was fine.

[@angusian26]

i guess it depends on how you fly the glider on hours v trimming

[@rattenmike]

All gliders needs to be re trimmed , after 30-50hours when new... 🤷

[@yanngallin2104]

My goal was not to start a debate on trimming or if this wing needs to be trimmed more often than others. This wing has not particular issues that other wings would have after 50 hours. I flew 50 hours in strong thermal conditions in the Alps and I absolutely loved it in every way, again I just wanted a little more speed at trim. Since it s a 2-liner, C or not (i have other en-d 2 liners), I thought it d be great to check trimming sooner than later. With my previous EN-C 3-liners, I did not really check trimming maybe until 100 hours which after reflection was probably a mistake 😅!

[@M12ike]

Thanx great review!

[@AvengerIl]

To be fair, I use 2x1.2mm dyneema lines for high G manoeuvres in kitesurfing, lines that have 1000s of hours and salt water and sand damage to boot . No issues

[@FlyingwithPeter007]

Nice ☺️

[@flybubbleparagliding]

Thanks 🤗

[@thisisyol]

Wondering how the progress ladder will change once D3-Liners are discontinued like Mantra. What are you supposed to fly after EN-C? There is not that much.

[@kocot.]

What is this A-B connection system? They want stabilos to accelerate less on speed? BTW Please note that Scala can be effectively considered EN C given current EN C class requirements.

[@flybubblecarlo]

For the A-B connection system on the Volt 4, yes I think they also want the stabilo lines to accelerate less when accelerated (as well as the outer As). I think other wings have a similar or even the same kind of setup e.g. the Ozone Zeolite GT, which I have now also also flown a bit (maybe a mini review of this to follow at some point if time allows - but we have many other higher priorities ahead of this right now).

[@flybubblecarlo]

I would also expect the 'low D' Phi Scala Light would now pass EN-C flight certification (as would some other EN-D certified wings) given the new EN-C class requirements allowing folding lines. Phi designer Hannes Papesh has said from their internal testing the Scala Light would easily pass EN-C flight certification with folding lines. However I'm not sure Phi will actually do this since they would have to pay again for the expensive flight certification to be done and I'm not sure this would be their highest priority right now. I suppose that the new semi-light Scala would be well ahead of this in their priority list. Also, although I have not hear of any suggestion as yet for a Scala Light 2, the X-Alps is next year so I would expect that this would again be a higher priority than re-certifying the Scala Light at this stage.

[@kocot.]

@@flybubblecarlo Agreed, Hannes did mention they will recertify it, but it doesn't feel essential TBH. Although, if they do, this puts Scala in a very favorable position for competitions limited to EN C class. IMO this should be automatic, unless there were other changes in certification that would affect the result.

[@FlyWithSergio]

This Will be my Next Wing. Do you think that Will be a too much step up if i have now bgd base 2? Thanks so much

[@bendoherty3129]

I am by no means an expert. Im just a stranger on the internet. But my opinion would be yes. If it were me. Id rather go from the the base 2. To an "easy" C. Then some time later go to this wing

[@FlyWithSergio]

@@bendoherty3129 Easy C? Some people tell me that this is high C due speed and 2 band. Well, I'm decided to buy it next season. Thanks so much

[@flybubblecarlo]

ℹ AirDesign were the first paraglider manufacturer to have a 2 liner paraglider certified EN C under the new EN flight certification rules, in 2022. Several other paraglider manufacturers at least - perhaps even a dozen or more of them - had prototype 2-liner paragliders in development, some of which went on to be certified EN C under the new EN flight certification rules, in 2023. 🤓

[@flybubbleparagliding]

Wondering which is the right and best wing, harness or reserve for you? See our Flybubble MATCH service - flybubble.com/flybubble-match-service

[@luismaie]

Please redo the voiceover on the intro while outside. The sound quality of the rest of the video is so much better. Thanks for all you detailed reviews!

[@luismaie]

@@flybubbleparagliding The voice in the intro is strongly dampened probably recorded in a small room - compared to the rest of the video which is recorded in nature/outside/on your hill. It does not really fit together.

[@flybubblecarlo]

​@@luismaie Thanks for your constructive feedback! 👍 Actually I recorded everything outside, all through the camera (to make things simpler and save time). The difference in audio quality is probably due to the difference in wind conditions. Lighter wind, better sound (as no auto wind noise cancellation required). Also, on one day of recording (this took four days, and many hours) there's a tractor working in another field quite far away that can be heard, annoyingly. Getting good - and consistent - audio is one of the hardest things to do for an amateur mostly one-man filming operation. We'll keep trying to improve, within our means! 😀

[@BenProebster]

@@flybubblecarlo hi Carlo, I think he is talking about your general "flybubble intro" (white screen, logo, Google search...), where indeed the recording quality is a bit off compared to the rest (just some reverb).

[@flybubblecarlo]

@@BenProebster Thanks Ben, now I get it! 🙏 Next time I'll try to read - and understand - the feedback better! 😳 Less haste more speed! 😅

[@flybubblecarlo]

​@@luismaie Thanks 🙏 I think I understand now! 💡 You mean the "Welcome to the Flybubble Paragliding channel..." intro. Note to self note: Take the time to read - *and understand* - feedback before hastily responding! 😅 Okay, we'll try to rerecord that intro as soon as we can. ⏺Thanks again for the constructive feedback, much appreciated! 👍

[@CampTlangram]

👍

[@puffandstuff72]

didn't Sol have the first?

[@flybubblecarlo]

To my knowledge no, AirDesign were the first paraglider manufacturer to have a 2 liner paraglider certified EN C under the new EN flight certification rules, in 2022. Several other paraglider manufacturers, including Sol, had prototype 2-liners in development, some of which went on to be certified EN C, in 2023.

[@GeraldMorel-ih9eq]

And nova codex?

[@flybubbleparagliding]

Coming soon!

[@Hemersonr]

Nice t-shirts

[@flybubblecarlo]

Glad you like them! 🙏 I have a lot of them, from all the brands we deal with! 😀 flybubble.com/brands (there has to be *some* benefits to working in a free flight business! 😉)

[@danilotatufly776]

I'm dying to see your comment solparagliders lt2 C 2 lines... hope you have the opportunity

[@luciovasconcellos2363]

A Sol Paragliders foi a primeira a lançar uma vela EN C 2 linhas, a LT1, e acaba de lançar a LT2 agora certificada como EN C.

[@flybubbleparagliding]

See the new and used Sports Paragliders we currently have in stock and on offer on our website: flybubble.com/wings/sports-paragliders flybubble.com/used/used-wings