APCO TECHNOLOGIES
ABS: AUTOMATIC BALANCE SYSTEM
This outstanding roll stability gives the pilot the best and most efficient flying path at high speeds!
It is on cross country flights or when chasing down a friend that the ABS system comes into play.
The ABS system will get you from point A to B in the fastest way possible with no pilot input.
On trim speed, the system is not activated, allowing dynamic flight tuned for thrill and agility.
EHP: EMBEDDED HOOK-IN POINTS
Embedding top lines directly into the bottom surface of the glider, (using APCO’s EHP technology) will significantly reduce drag on each hook-in point to the absolute minimum.
Multiplying this drag reduction over 100 line connection points results in a big performance gain.The improvement in performance is free of any side effects and is a very efficient way to gain on L/D without sacrificing safety or handling.
BR2: BULLET RISER 2
The riser which will set the future design for the industry – reduction of riser drag by 80% and more. Its drop shaped branches produce only a fraction of the drag produced by regular risers. It is still made from the same 25mm. width webbing, but shaped into a tear drop profile – easy to understand and handle.It is a very effective way of improving performance without sacrificing safety, handling and integrity of the wing.
HIT VALVES: HIGH SPEED
INTAKE VALVES
Apco’s HIT Valves are designed to improve the wing’s stability and performance at high speeds. The valves located on the leading edge will open automatically when the internal pressure of the wing drops, improving the stability of the wing.
A few valves along the span of the leading edge are sufficient to pressurise the entire wing during accelerated flight or loss of internal pressure.
SRS: STALL RECOVERY SYSTEM
SRS® is the most effective tool in aiding automatic wing recovery in case of a stall. A few words on the safety of paragliding, in particular about deep stall problems and possible solutions to avoid it. The wing design of paraglider should provide for safe flight envelope, preventing the possibility of unintended stall. Despite this, stall can occur sometimes, but the wing should recover automatically to avoid accident.
OAA: ONE ACTION ACCELERATION
OAA ia an innovative system The OAA allows to simultaneously operate both the speed system and the trimmer for optimized angle of attack at any given speed. With OAA, when using the speed system, the trimmers are released gradually according to the position of the speed bar. This allows for a larger speed range that can be fully used in one swift action of the speed bar.
APP: SHARK NOSE
The wing uses a new generation of aerodynamic profile (APP) which has the in take located further back on the bottom surface of the wing, and not at the front stagnation point.
The in take directed primarily against the direction of flow on the bottom surface of the wing. This technology results in an increase in internal pressure as the flow velocity is increased, regardless of the position of the front stagnation point.
FBS: FLEXON® BATTEN SYSTEM
New generation FLEXON® batten system incorporated (see below) for the leading edge of the ribs, insuring perfect profile shape instead of traditional Mylar reinforcement. FLEXON® battens reduce the weight of the glider by an additional 500gr without any sign of deterioration during the life span of the glider.
BBP: AIR EXTREME BALL
BEARING PULLEYS ®
Our new pulley has been specifically designed for paragliding. This is a pulley with stainless steel ball bearings, allowing the lowest possible friction – big improvement when used for Speed system on the glider and/or harness. Weight to strength ratio is impressive, under 10 gr and designed for breaking load of up to 300 Kg. The 16 mm plastic sheave/wheel can be used with any line up to 5 mm diameter.
ARO: ASPECT RATIO OPTIMIZATION
A.R.O. by APCO represents a design philosophy which we believe brings the best results possible to the subject of sizing wings for paragliding/paramotoring. The span of the wing and size are changed by adding or deducting the amount of panels (wing segments). This is In order to not only change the area of the wing, but also the Aspect Ratio (A.R)
WSS: WIND SCOOP SYSTEM
The WSS is an innovative new system of tip steering. The principle is manipulation of the tip into a form of a Wind Scoop / drag parachute.
This form produces only drag (without any lift) which allows for: Agile and efficient tip steering. Lighter force tip steering. Even more stable tips.
LASER CUT WINGS
Cutting of paragliders is traditionally done with a cold knife, which can be static, rotary or a reciprocating. Laser cutting is referred to as “hot cutting”, where the laser-beam cuts (melts) a very thin line in the fabric while moving according to the CAD file containing panels neatly nested to fit the fabric. Apco’s production facility is equipped with state of the art custom Laser Cutting Machine 10[m] long and 2[m] wide.
MAGNETC ATTACHMENT GRID
Magnetic Attachment Grid, Integral, built-in, Neodymium Brake Magnets with male/female connection. In continuous desire to improve our products, we constantly work on design and performance, but do not neglect the small details either. Our traditional arrangement for magnet placement on brake handles and risers of paraglider replaced by a new design where special plastic casing keeps the magnet in place.
POLYCOMB
Polycomb was designed by APCO in cooperation with a large polycarbonate specialized company – danpal.com. Polycomb is a high tenacity polycarbonate material, extruded into a smartly designed honeycomb structure which yields the best possible strength / weight ratio. The technology is borrowed from translucent skylight rooftop panels used in modern architecture.
3D CUT
3D cut is a special additional cut. Inserted into the leading edge of the wing, it results in a cleaner, more aerodynamic shape to the leading edge, in the inflated shape during flight.
Imagine trying to fold a straight long piece of paper into the shape of a panel, specifically in the leading edge part. You will discover that in order to receive the curvature needed on the center of the “panel” excess material will be left on the edges which are typically sewn to the ribs.
FLOW ALIGNED RIBS
(FAR - PAT. PENDING)
Flow Aligned Ribs (FAR – pat. pending) is a conceptual change in the way paragliders have been designed until today (Apco and the rest of the industry). Traditionally, due to a paragliders curvature / anhedral, ribs progressively become less and less aligned to the angle of airflow on the wing as you move closer to the wingtip. The FAR concept is, to gradually change the angle of the ribs so that they are aligned with the flow across the span of the wing.
BUTT HOLES
Butt Holes 2 is the second generation of our original Butt Holes – exit points for debris from inside the wing. BT2 is essentially small holes located at strategic points of the trailing edge to allow sand and debris to exit from inside the wing with no pilot action. During normal use, the wing will collect sand and debris that accumulates in the corners of the trailing edge.
MINI HOLES
Apco introduced Mini Ribs to the Market in 1997 with the release of the legendary Bagheera. Mini Ribs improve performance by streamlining the airflow towards the trailing edge of the wing. The Mini Rib allows this gain without much additional weight or bulk, as would be the case if one used full ribs. Drag is the biggest enemy to paraglider performance, and this is a elegant way to reduce it.
DSC® – DOUBLE SILICONIZED
CLOTH
This is contrary to most other brands who use lighter fabric only coated one time on each side, and in some cases only one time on only one side! On our current range of wings, we use this fabric on specific locations on the canopy where porosity is most important.
These locations are where aerodynamically there is the highest pressure difference (lift) between internal and external parts of the wing.
V-LINK
The V-links replace the traditional rapide maillon (quicklinks) connecting the lines to the risers.
The V-links are beautifully forged from 7075 T6 aircraft grade Aluminium – more resembling “jewelry” than paragliding hardware. They utilize a geometrical lock which is sealed by a plastic insert that once put in place cannot fail, creating a fool proof mechanism.