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APCO Aviation

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APCO paraglider wings and parachutes logo

APCO Aviation has been involved in the paragliding industry from the very beginning. Anatoly Cohn, the company's owner and founder, started in hang gliding, designing and building gliders in 1976 with Agur Gliders. In 1982 he founded APCO Aviation. APCO Aviation is one of the world's biggest producers of paragliders and has been producing gliders for over ten years. From paragliders like the entry level Prima, a wing that has become a benchmark for many schools and instructors around the world to the high performance Extra, which holds a World Distance Record.

Typical features designed into the construction of APCO paragliders include:

APCO Aviation gliders are made from tough, 46gr/m2, high tear resistant, rip stop nylon, Gelvenor cloth, which is P.U. double-coated to "zero porosity" and siliconized to make the fabric greatly resistant to the elements. APCO been using this cloth since 1992, and they have not received a single claim about deteriorating performance as a result of loss of porosity of the cloth. APCO has made a comprehensive study, comparing cloth quality. The results are that the porosity of their new cloth is 2-3 times better than cloth used by their competitors and the tearing resistance is 10%-15% better than cloth used by their competitors. APCO's study indicated that after 500 hours of use, the porosity of APCO's wing fabric will be 10 times better than that of the cloth used by their competitors and the tearing resistance will be 7 times stronger than that of the cloth used by their competitors. APCO Aviation offers a 3 year/250 hour warranty on their paraglider fabric.

Typical construction techniques utilized in the manufacture of APCO paragliders include:

It is APCO's philosophy to have only one person complete each paraglider, including all vital stages, from start to finish. Therefore, the fabric of APCO paragliders are individually cut as a set and sewn as a set. Furthermore, the line sets of APCO paragliders are individually cut and sewn as a set.

Typical Materials from which APCO paragliders are manufactured include:

As mentioned above, APCO paragliders are made from tough, 46gr/m2, high tear resistant, rip stop nylon, Gelvenor cloth, which is P.U. double-coated to "zero porosity" and siliconized to make the fabric greatly resistant to the elements. The cloth for the top and bottom panels, and the ribs is of different types due to their different functions. For more information on the fabric utilized in the construction of APCO paragliders please see the link to the specific fabric used at APCO's web site. APCO paragliders are noted for their durability. Reports from various schools and pilots indicate that even after 5 years of daily intensive use in schools or 600-700 hours flying time by professional pilots APCO paragliders remain in very good condition. Such durability equates to value as an APCO paraglider will not need replacement as quickly as some other paragliders.

The lines are made of Dyneema or Super-aramid covered with a polyester sheath for protection against wear and abrasion. The bottom section of the brake lines is made of 2.2 mm / 90 kg Polyester because of its better mechanical properties to resist the bending around the steel ring of the brake line guide.

The carabineers that attach the lines to the v-lines are made of high corrosion resistant stainless steel.

APCO Aviation produces a full range of paragliders both in performance and size to meet the various needs of the pilot. The entire selection of APCO Aviation Paragliders can be seen at the APCO Aviation Web Site.

Powered ParaSports has chosen the following paragliders from the line of APCO Aviation paragliders as those best suited for powered paragliding.

APCO Aviation Prima 2 paraglider

Prima 2

The Prima 2, introduced in 1998, has become a benchmark for many schools and instructors around the world. Being safe, reliable, and forgiving, it is designed for the beginner pilot. The paraglider features trimmers to assist the pilot in dealing with torque affect. The forward portion of the wing ribs are constructed of 180 gr/m2 Trilam to provide greater rigidity to the leading edge of the airfoil and to enhance the wing's inflation characteristics. The Prima 2 sizes 24, 27 and 30 are certified in the AFNOR Standard Class.

Click here to for a comparison chart between the APCO Prima 2 and other paragliders.

Click here for the technical details, performance data, and color options of the APCO Prima 2.

Click here for the certification data for the APCO Prima 2.

paraglider - APCO Aviation Fiesta 2 in flight

Fiesta 2

The Fiesta 2 is exceptionally well suited to powered paragliding. This is due in part to its easy launch characteristics without any bad tendencies. It's launch characteristics are even, smooth and without overshooting tendencies. Safety, handling and performance make the Fiesta 2 a natural choice for powered paragliding. The Fiesta 2's trimmers make it easy for the pilot to deal with the torque factor of the paramotor. The small, medium and large sizes of the Fiesta 2 are certified DHV 1 and also certified in the AFNOR Standard Class. The large size and tandem size also have a DULV certification.

Click here for a special note from APCO on the use of the riser system.

Click here to for a comparison chart between the APCO Fiesta 2 and other paragliders.

Click here for the technical details, performance data, and color options of the APCO Fiesta 2.

Click here for the certification data for the APCO Fiesta 2.

Click here for the DHV test report for the Large APCO Fiesta 2.

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Powered Paragliding / Paramotoring

Fly a Powered Paraglider ( PPG ) - "Realize" Your Fantasies of Flight

Copyright © 2003 Powered ParaSports Last modified: 06/03/2007

Copyright © 2003 Powered ParaSports
Last modified: 06/03/2007