Icaro 2000

Icaro 2000 is an Italian aircraft manufacturer based in Sangiano, specializing in hang gliders, ultralight trikes, and helmets for hang gliding. Its origins date to 1973, when Alfio Caronti and Peter Skarupp established the company to manufacture Bill Moyes hang-glider designs under licence, initially for boat-towing applications. The business continued producing Moyes designs after Franco Garzia and Gianni Hotz acquired it in 1981. After selling more than 3,000 hang gliders by 1991, Icaro 2000 moved toward proprietary development and began having its designs certified by the Deutscher Hängegleiterverband, commonly abbreviated as DHV. The company introduced its first own model, the Icaro Brazil, in 1992. In 1994 it launched the Icaro Laminar, a high-performance hang glider that became one of the company’s best-known products and remained in production into 2016. The Laminar was used by numerous world champions, helping establish Icaro 2000’s reputation in competitive hang gliding. The company expanded its design range in 1996 with its first topless hang glider, a configuration without a conventional kingpost. In 1998, it began producing hang-gliding helmets under the 4fight brand. During the mid-2000s, Icaro 2000 also entered the paraglider market with models including the Icaro Cyber and Force, although it later discontinued the sale of paragliders. Icaro 2000’s product identity has therefore been centered on foot-launched and lightweight recreational aircraft rather than conventional aviation. Its portfolio has combined high-performance hang gliders, ultralight trikes, and protective equipment for pilots. The company’s cumulative production reached more than 9,000 hang gliders by the end of 2010, according to the cited reference material. This figure included aircraft flown by internationally successful pilots and world champions. No reliable public information in the supplied sources establishes the company’s current ownership, executive leadership, revenue, listing status, or official website. Its continued presence as a specialized manufacturer is reflected in the reference description, but detailed current operating information requires further verification.

Icaro 2000 was founded in 1973 by Alfio Caronti and Peter Skarupp in Italy. The company’s initial business was based on licensed production of hang-glider designs created by Bill Moyes. These aircraft were reportedly produced for boat-towing applications, placing the young company within the emerging market for lightweight recreational and sport aviation. A change in ownership occurred in 1981, when Franco Garzia and Gianni Hotz bought the company. Under their ownership, Icaro 2000 continued manufacturing Moyes designs. By 1991, the company had sold more than 3,000 hang gliders. This commercial experience supported a strategic shift toward independent product development. Icaro 2000 began creating its own aircraft designs and sought DHV certification for each model, linking its products to formal technical evaluation in the German-speaking hang-gliding market. The company’s first identified proprietary model was the Icaro Brazil, introduced in 1992. Two years later, Icaro 2000 launched the Icaro Laminar. The Laminar became a particularly important product in the company’s history: it achieved strong market recognition, was flown by multiple world champions, and remained in production until 2016. In 1996, Icaro 2000 added its first topless hang-glider design. Removing the kingpost was a significant configuration choice for high-performance hang gliders and reflected the company’s emphasis on competition-oriented development. Icaro 2000 broadened its activities beyond airframes in 1998 by producing hang-gliding helmets under the 4fight name. This gave the company a product category directly connected to pilot safety and equipment, rather than aircraft alone. During the middle of the 2000s, it also produced paragliders, including the Icaro Cyber and Force. The company subsequently withdrew from paraglider sales, leaving hang gliders, ultralight trikes, and helmets as the principal product categories identified in the available reference. By the end of 2010, Icaro 2000 had sold more than 9,000 hang gliders. The cited account notes that many were used by world champions, indicating a meaningful presence in the competitive hang-gliding community. The available material does not provide a detailed account of later ownership, management, corporate restructuring, financial performance, or current model availability. It also does not establish a verified official website URL. Accordingly, the company’s historical development and product milestones can be documented with reasonable confidence, while its present corporate structure and market footprint remain to be researched.

• 2016

  Laminar production period documented

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  The Icaro Laminar was reported to have remained in production through 2016.

• 2010

  More than 9,000 hang gliders sold

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  By the end of 2010, cumulative hang-glider sales had exceeded 9,000 units, including aircraft used by world champions.

• 1998

  4fight helmet line begins

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  The company began manufacturing hang-gliding helmets under the 4fight brand.

• 1996

  First topless design

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  Icaro 2000 introduced its first topless hang glider, a design without a conventional kingpost.

• 1994

  Icaro Laminar launched

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  Icaro 2000 introduced the Laminar, a successful high-performance hang glider that remained in production into 2016 and was used by numerous world champions.

• 1992

  Icaro Brazil introduced

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced the Icaro Brazil, identified as its first own hang-glider model.

• 1991

  Shift toward proprietary designs

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  After selling more than 3,000 hang gliders, Icaro 2000 decided to develop its own models and seek DHV certification for each design.

• 1981

  Ownership change

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  Franco Garzia and Gianni Hotz acquired the company and continued production of Moyes hang-glider designs.

• 1973

  Company founded

  [1]Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org

  Alfio Caronti and Peter Skarupp founded Icaro 2000 to produce Bill Moyes hang-glider designs under licence, initially for boat-towing applications.

A specialist Italian manufacturer focused on performance-oriented hang gliders, lightweight aircraft, and protective equipment for hang-gliding pilots.

• Hang glider · 1992

  Icaro Brazil

  Introduced in 1992, the Icaro Brazil was the company’s first identified internally developed hang-glider model after its earlier period of licensed production. The available reference does not specify its technical configuration, performance figures, certification class, or production volume.

• High-performance hang glider · 1994

  Icaro Laminar

  The Icaro Laminar was introduced in 1994 and became one of Icaro 2000’s best-known products. It was described as highly successful, remained in production into 2016, and was flown by many world champions. The supplied reference does not identify the individual Laminar variants or provide detailed technical specifications.

• Hang-gliding helmet · 1998

  4fight helmets

  Icaro 2000 began producing hang-gliding helmets under the 4fight brand in 1998. The line extended the company’s activities from aircraft manufacture into pilot protective equipment. Specific models, materials, certifications, and current availability are not identified in the supplied sources.

• Paraglider

  Icaro Cyber

  The Icaro Cyber was one of the paragliders produced by Icaro 2000 during its expansion into the paraglider market in the mid-2000s. The company no longer sells paragliders, and the available reference does not provide detailed information about this model.

• Paraglider

  Icaro Force

  The Icaro Force was part of the company’s historical paraglider range during the mid-2000s. Icaro 2000 later stopped selling paragliders. No further specifications or production details are established by the supplied reference.

• Ultralight aircraft

  Ultralight trikes

  Ultralight trikes are identified as a core area of Icaro 2000’s aircraft manufacturing activity. The supplied material does not name specific trike models or document their launch dates, configurations, certification, or current status.

1. 1Icaro 2000en.wikipedia.org