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Hang gliders
Licensed Manufacturer |
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ICARO 2000 was the
first hang-glider factory in Europe. It was founded in
1973 by Alfio Caronti
& Peter Skarupp. Alfio recieved his first
glider from Bill Moyes, during a water-ski competition in 1969. He was
the first Hang glider pilot in Europe, who took off from a mountain on the
4th November 1971. Infact, until that
time gliders were used only for boat-towing. Unbelievable but true, the
glider used by Alfio was a kingpostless glider with square tubes. Peter
was the technician of
the factory and
together they manufactured hang-gliders under the license of the
Australian firm Moyes.
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In
1981,
Franco
Garzia &
Gianni Hotz,
became the new owners of ICARO 2000 and continued to make
Moyes
hang-gliders. Their first glider was the Meteor 170
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Since 1983
ICARO has been committed to top quality, using only the best
tubes in Perunal (aluminium alloy 7075 for aeronautics) from
the Swiss manufacturer Alumenziken.
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Since 1998 ICARO
has its own landing area (more then 50.000 sq m)
with Club House, Camping facilities and
Store of accessories for Sport Aviation:
these facilities are located at a very nice place, at Lago Maggiore (northern Italy), facing a mountain ideal for
flying.
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At the end of
1998, Icaro introduced on the market
its very famous
helmet range "SkyRunner". Since this year ICARO
produces also
helmets for the sport: items of high
technology (kevlar-carbon shells) and great Italian look,
certified according to the most recent European requirements.
ICARO's Helmets -from then on- have been successfully sold
world wide.
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Until 1991
ICARO sold -in Europe- more then 3,000
gliders (Moyes models like Mega II, Missile, Mars, GT, GTR and
XS).
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Designer
and Manufacturer |
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In 1992 ICARO
goes its own way, Manfred Ruhmer becomes part of the staff and ICARO
starts to develop original designs with its own sailmakers and a well
equipped workshop with 20 employees and a +1.200 sq m building. The
development of new models is carried out by Manfred Ruhmer,
one of the world's best pilots, Franco
Garzia, a former italian champion, and Markus Pause for
sail design. Since this time all ICARO hang glider models are
certified by the DHV (Germany)
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In 1992 the first ICARO's original design
is born: the Brazil. With this glider, a new era started
for ICARO. The frame of the hang-gliders became stronger and
more rigid with a big improvment of maximum reachable speed and glide at
high speed.
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Then in
1994 it is time
for the new and very successful Laminar. The sail of this glider
has a perfect shape at every speed; the result is an incredible good
handling for termaling and a good glide at middle-high speed. With this
wing ICARO started to reach very important competition results:
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1994 European
Championship in Laragne (France): Manfred Ruhmer is 2nd
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1995 World
Championship in Ager (Spain): Manfred Ruhmer is 2nd. In this year the
hang-glider evolution needs a new generation of wings. The first
prototype of kingpostless gliders appeares in the competitions scenery.
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In 1996 ICARO presents
its first prototype of topless glider and with this wing, Manfred reaches the
2nd place in the European Championship in Hungary
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So in 1997
the new Laminar ST is
born, and for ICARO starts a new generation of gliders. With
this glider, we reach again, the 2nd place in the World Championship of Australia. Now we are ready to change...
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In 1998 Manfred takes
conscience of his skills and the performance of his glider. With the
Laminar ST,
Manfred wins his first European Championship in the Czeck Republic.
From this moment on Manfred and Laminar become "The Pilot" and "The Hang
Glider". In this year ICARO opens the horizons also towards the rigid
wings and
forms an agreement with
Felix
-A.I.R., by which ICARO will make keels and sails for the
Atos (ICARO has
made 550 so far) and obtains the option to sell the Atos in certain
markets.
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1999:
like if it was a promise,
Manfred wins his first World Champ Title in Italy.
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From 2000 the
modifications that Manfred has introduced on his glider, become available
for any pilot that wants them. The new high performance glider by
Icaro 2000 is born: The Laminar MR. Its tunning is completly followed
by Manfred. With this glider Ruhmer wins his 2nd European Championship in
his home country: Austria.
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2000 is also
time for other two ICARO adventures. ICARO introduces on the paragliders' scenery
the Cyber, a new basic-intermediate wing, with the latest technology
and construction methods and highest safety DHV 1. Always in 2000, on October 25th,
ICARO
reviews its agreement with Felix; ICARO takes over the worldwide
production and distribution of the Atos from the home base in Sangiano.
Felix works exclusively on the development of the design. In fact,
after having sold more than 400 Atos in two years, period in which ICARO
took an active part in the manufacturing of sails, A-frames and keels,
it was decided that henceforth A.I.R.
would devote 100% to the development and technical support,
whereas ICARO would become in
charge of the production and distribution of the Atos. But...
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In 2001 the development of Atos is always followed
by Felix Rühle
with Manfred Ruhmer's collaboration, looking for
meaningful improvement, but
Felix
wants to resume the Atos' production
in Germany. By this time, ICARO constructed over 100 Atos gliders,
including those flown by the Italian Champion Christian Ciech, taking second
place at
the World Championships/WAG in Spain in 2001. It's in this way that the podium of
2001 World
Championship in Spain is full of Atos. Alex Ploner is on first place.
Second place for Christian Ciech and third place for Manfred Trimmel. In
september 2001 Christian Ciech starts working for Icaro 2000 in
the development team, and after six months comes into the scenery the new
Icaro 2000's rigid wing: the Stratos.
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2001
lManfred wins his
second World Champ Title in Spain.
He becomes shareholder of Icaro
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2002:
with the
new Stratos Christian Ciech achieves his first World Champion title
in Chelan Washington
USA.
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2003
lManfred wins his
third World Champ Title in Brasil.
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2004
Christian Ciech vins
his second World Champ Title in Austria.
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2004
lManfred wins his
fourth European Champ Title in France.
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2004
Christian Ciech vins
his fith Italian Champ Title.
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ICARO is proud to
reach -end of 2004- the milestone figure of 8000 gliders manufactured
and sold: most of them being top-end models very successful in
competitions
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Perspectives |
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