The Apco Prima ( en, first) is an Israeli single-place,

paraglider Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or lies supine in a cocoon-like ' ...

that was designed and produced by

Apco Aviation 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 u ...

of Caesarea. It has been in production since the early 1990s and remained in production through 2016.Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04'', page 12. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster OK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X

Design and development

The Prima was designed as a beginner glider for use in flight training of students for both gliding and

paramotor Paramotor is the generic name for the harness and propulsive portion of a powered paraglider ("PPG"). There are two basic types of paramotors: foot launch and wheel launch. Foot launch models consist of a frame with harness, fuel tank, engine, ...

flying. The glider is made from Gelvenor 42 g/m2 "Zero Porosity" ripstop

nylon Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic. Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from pe ...

. The design has progressed through four generations of models, the Prima, Prima 2, 3 and 4, each improving on the last. The Prima 4 incorporates

leading edge The leading edge of an airfoil surface such as a wing is its foremost edge and is therefore the part which first meets the oncoming air.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 305. Aviation Supplies & Academics, ...

battens and an improved landing flare capability. The models are each named for their rough wing area in square metres.

Variants

;Prima II 22 :Small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 20 cells and the aspect ratio is 3.22:1. The pilot weight range is . ;Prima II 30 :Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 25 cells and the aspect ratio is 3.94:1. The pilot weight range is . The glider model is AFNOR Standard certified. ;Prima 4 22 :Extra small-sized model for lighter pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 20 cells and the aspect ratio is 3.22:1. The glider empty weight is and the pilot weight range is . The glider model is not certified. ;Prima 4 24 :Small-sized model for light-weight pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 21 cells and the aspect ratio is 3.36:1. The glider empty weight is and pilot weight range is . The glider model is CEN/AFNOR Standard certified. ;Prima 4 27 :Mid-sized model for medium-weight pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 23 cells and the aspect ratio is 3.65:1. The glider empty weight is and pilot weight range is . The glider model is CEN/AFNOR Standard certified. ;Prima 4 30 :Large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 25 cells and the aspect ratio is 3.94:1. The glider empty weight is and pilot weight range is . The glider model is CEN/AFNOR Standard certified. ;Prima 4 33 :Extra large-sized model for heavier pilots. Its span wing has a wing area of , 27 cells and the aspect ratio is 4.2:1. The glider empty weight is and pilot weight range is . The glider model is not certified.

Specifications (Prima II 30)

References

External links

Official website
{{Apco aircraft Prima Paragliders