New World Record Initiative

APCO announces a new intiative, sponsoring a campaign to conquer the Paragliding World Record – open distance or declared goal (free flight) – to be made on a standard APCO certified product from the current range.

An unheard of prize of US $25,000 in cash, will be paid to the pilot breaking the world record. The record(s) must be FAI approved, fully documented and followed by a well written story and collection of nice, print quality photos featuring APCO products used for the new record.

APCO will also handsomely reward a good story with attractive photos telling of the attempt to break World Record on an APCO current wing – even if it was unsuccessful and just ended up with remarkable flights -publishable in the media.

For pilots needing to obtain an APCO wing to make an attempt to break the World Record – a special deal will be offered.

World Records

  • New World Record Cross Country Open Distance (Absolute) Solo Pilot: $10,000
  • New World Record Cross Country Open Distance Solo Female Pilot: $3,000
  • Other World Records (Male/Female Solo Pilot, Paramotor and Tandem): $2,000
    (not absolute open distance)

World Cup Ranking Finals

World Cup- Final Overall Ranking (Absolute)

  • 1st Place: $4,000
  • 2nd Place: $3,000
  • 3rd Place: $2,000
  • 4th Place: $1,000
  • 5th Place: $500

World Cup- Ranking Female

  • 1st Place: $2,000
  • 2nd Place: $1,000
  • 3rd Place: $500

World Cup- Ranking for Each Competition (Absolute)

  • 1st Place: $1,000
  • 2nd Place: $500
  • 3rd Place: $200

Major National Leagues or National XC Records

(German, French, British, Swisss, Japanese)
  • 1st Place: $2,000
  • 2nd Place: $1,00
  • 3rd Place: $500

Other National Leagues Or National XC Records

(Spain, Italy, USA, Canada, Sweden, Norway, South Africa, Austria, Brazil, Slovenia)
  • 1st Place: $1,000
  • 2nd Place: $500
  • 3rd Place: $250

World Championship

World Championship (Absolute)

  • 1st Place: $10,000
  • 2nd Place: $5,000
  • 3rd Place: $3,000

World Championship (Female)

  • 1st Place: $5,000
  • 2nd Place: $2,500
  • 3rd Place: $1,500

European Championship

European Championship (Absolute)

  • 1st Place: $7,000
  • 2nd Place: $3,000
  • 3rd Place: $2,500

European Championship (Female)

  • 1st Place: $3,500
  • 2nd Place: $1,500
  • 3rd Place: $1,250

European Records

  • European XC Record: $ 4,000
  • Other European Records: $ 2,000

Rewards for Photos

APCO announces an innovative initiative, rewarding pilots for their Paragliding/Paramotoring action photographs published in the industry magazines.

How would you like to receive up to 1000$ for doing what you do every weekend anyway?

Sounds good, right? All you have to do is just take your camera with you when you go flying and send us your best Apco photos!

We at APCO will select and distribute the photos to the Paragliding/Paramotoring magazines.

The photographer will be credited by his name.

For every picture published APCO will reward the pilot who submitted it with cash prizes and his name will be posted on our “Apco’s Photographers Hall of Fame”.

We at APCO will not use pictures that we did not send to the magazines for our own use without prior consent from the sender.

Photo requirements are:

  • The pictures have to be of APCO’s current paragliders/paramotors range.
  • The pictures have to be unedited and in jpg format.
  • The pictures have to be in high resolution, minimum 300 dpi, for an A4 page size or about 1.5 megabite file size( 5 megapixel camera and up).
  • Your personal contact details – full name, E-mail, country and phone number (include these details in the file name).
  • Description of the photo, what is in the photograph, where was it taken and when (include these details also in the file name).
  • Optional – a short interesting story of the background for how this picture “came to life” would be helpful to publish the photographs.

Flying trips/stories:

Pilots planning a trip to an exotic location or have an interesting story to tell, featuring APCO gliders- send us an article accompanied by exciting photos from your trip, we will submit it, credit and reward you for any stories published.

For pilots needing to obtain an APCO wing to embark on such an excursion- a special prize will be offered.
Address for sending photos: apco[at]apcoaviation.com

Pilot Support

In order to support pilots flying APCO gliders and provide incentives for APCO pilots to improve their performance, APCO awards Prize Money for pilots flying APCO gliders in competitions and for record breaking flights.

In addition to these prizes, we offer to cover the cost of entrance fees (we do not cover transportation costs to and from competition, food and lodging) for the competitions listed below for APCO Team Pilots.

Pilot Support is offered for all World Cup Competitions and for all the national/international competitions where registration is made on a personal basis and not as a team supported/sponsored by other sport associations or government subsidy. Competition details must be submitted to Apco for approval before the event.

Paragliders: to the members of the national teams and/or league pilots, a 20% credit against the cost of paraglider will be granted with a signed pilot agreement.

Top Pilots: Special conditions are negotiable on a personal basis.

Terms and Conditions Prize Money

  1. All records must be officially FAI recognized.
  2. All other achievements must be officially ranked and published by the organizers.
  3. All flights must be made on APCO paragliders and the pilot must have concluded a signed contract with APCO. A List of competitions for pilot regestration should be submitted by the pilot to Apco for approval at the start of the season.
  4. Prizes will be paid after receiving a copy of official recognition. (for example: competition results published in one of the leading magazines.)
  5. Prizes will be paid either in cash or in goods.
  6. Absolute: This refers to general overall ranking, both male and female.
    eg. If the 1st female ranks 5th general/overall, the 1st female does not qualify for a prize.
  7. Countries in which 2 leagues exist – prizes will be awarded for Open Class only as listed.
  8. Local/Regional competitions, or National competitions in countries not listed will be awarded prizes on an individual basis on application and in accordance with APCO policy.
  9. The incentives and prizes are intended for free flying paragliding competitions and records.
    For incenties for all specialized competitions such as ACRO, Accuracy Landing, Paramotor etc. – Check with APCO.