Apco Aviation

Apco Aviation Limited
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryAerospace
Founded1982
FounderAnatoly Cohn
Headquarters,
Key people
CEO: Anatoly Cohn
ProductsHang gliders, paragliders, ultralight aircraft, harnesses, parachute rescue systems and accessories
Number of employees
60
Websitewww.apcoaviation.com

Apco Aviation (usually styled APCO), is an Israeli aircraft manufacturer based in Caesarea and founded in 1982 by Anatoly Cohn. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders and at one time also made hang gliders and ultralight aircraft. It also manufacturers paraglider harnesses, the Mayday line of parachute rescue systems and other accessories.[1][2][3]

Cohn started building his first prototype hang glider in 1974. In 1978 he produced his first high performance hang glider and in 1982 started Apco Aviation.[4] The company started producing paragliders in 1986 and has built more than 40 different models. It produces a wide range of paragliders that has included the competition Apco Simba, the Prima trainer, the Fiesta beginner glider, the intermediate Presta and Keara.[1][2][3][4]

The company occupies a 3,200 m2 (34,000 sq ft) factory in northern Israel that was specifically built for Apco. It employs 60 people there.[3][4]

In 1991 the Apco HiLite III set a World Distance Record for paragliders. The Apco Extra was also later flown to another World Distance Record for paragliders. In 2000 the Apco Futura set a world record, the company's tenth world record. The company's paragliders hold eleven world records.[3][4]

  1. ^ a b Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 12. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ a b Apco Aviation. "Welcome to APCO Aviation". Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Apco Aviation. "Company Profile". Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Apco Aviation. "Company History". Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.