August 25, 2011, Updated February 17, 2013

 

A boyhood fascination with flying has been transformed by Anatoly Cohn into one of the world’s most successful paragliding companies.

 

Apco’s hang gliders are one of the most popular brands in the world.

A boy who dreamed of flying while growing up in Russia turned his fantasy into a reality by developing a top paraglider aircraft company in Israel.

APCO paraglider

Apco’s hang gliders are one of the most popular brands in the world.

Anatoly Cohn, CEO of Israel’s APCO Aviation, was deported from Russia in the 1970s, and then set up business in Israel making hang gliders. Forty years later, he heads one of the world’s most successful brands in paramotoring and paragliding equipment.

The family-run business has dealers in more than 60 countries, and 15 world records have been set using APCO gliders. The company’s R&D is considered top-notch; its Mayday reserve parachute system has saved hundreds of paragliders and hang gliders in trouble.

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