A Family, a Workshop, and a Half-Century of Rotors
In the world of light helicopter design, few names carry the quiet authority of Cicaré. Founded in the province of Buenos Aires by Augusto Cicaré, the company — operating successively as Cicaré Aeronáutica S.A., Cicaré Helicópteros S.A., and today simply Cicaré S.A. — has produced an unbroken lineage of indigenous helicopter designs since 1961. That is over six decades of continuous rotorcraft development from a single Argentine engineering family, with no government programme, no military contract as a foundation, and no foreign parent company — just engineering discipline and an extraordinary commitment to the craft.
The story of Cicaré is, in many ways, the story of what a determined individual engineer can achieve when given time, skill, and a clear vision of what a light helicopter should be.
Origins and the Early CH Series (1961–1987)
Augusto Cicaré built his first helicopter, the CH-1, in 1961 — a remarkable achievement for a private individual in Argentina at that time. The CH-1 was followed by a steady progression of designs, each refining the formula:
- CH-1 (1961) — First prototype; the beginning of the lineage.
- CH-2 (1964) — Second development aircraft.
- CH-3 Colibrí (1976) — Named after the hummingbird; a significant step in the design evolution.
- CH-4 (1982)
- CH-5 AG (1986) — Agricultural variant.
- CH-6 (1987) — The design that would bring Cicaré international recognition. In 1989, the Italian company HeliSport acquired the rights to the CH-6 and used it as the direct basis for their CH-7 series — one of the most successful ultralight helicopters in European aviation history. The CH-6/CH-7 connection remains the clearest demonstration of Cicaré's engineering quality reaching a global market.
Continued Development (1993–2007)
Rather than resting on the CH-6's international success, Cicaré continued developing new designs through the 1990s and 2000s:
- CH-6T (1999) — Turbine-powered variant of the CH-6.
- CH-8 UL (1993) — Ultralight two-seat design.
- CH-9 (1995)
- CH-11 — Coaxial rotor configuration; a significant departure from the conventional single-main-rotor layout of earlier designs.
- CH-14 (2007) — One prototype built. Defence-oriented design with turbine engine.
The SVH-4: A Helicopter Trainer Unlike Any Other
Among Cicaré's most innovative contributions to aviation is the SVH-4 — a helicopter flight trainer of entirely original concept. Rather than a conventional dual-control aircraft, the SVH-4 is a fully functional helicopter attached to a mobile ground platform.
The platform features eight free-rotating wheels allowing movement in all directions, and a pneumatic cylinder system fed by an onboard air tank that allows the helicopter to rise and descend — simulating hover at up to 3 ft AGL and hover taxiing — while remaining safely tethered to the ground. All flight controls are fully functional, including collective, cyclic, and anti-torque pedals, giving student pilots genuine control feel and muscle memory without the risks of free flight.
The SVH-4 is powered by a Rotax 912 producing 100 hp and represents a genuinely original solution to the challenge of helicopter primary training — one that has attracted interest from flight schools and military training programmes internationally.
Current Production Aircraft
| Model | Configuration | Engine | Power (HP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicaré SVH-4 | Helicopter Flight Trainer | Rotax 912 | 100 |
| Cicaré 7B | Single seat | Rotax 912 ULS | 100 |
| Cicaré 7T | Two seat tandem | Rotax 914 UL | 115 |
| Cicaré 8 | Two seat side-by-side ULM | Epapower 917Ti / Rotax 915 | 135 / 150 |
| Cicaré 12 | Two seat side-by-side | Lycoming HIO-360 | 180 |
Complete Aircraft Lineage
| Year | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | CH-1 | First prototype. |
| 1964 | CH-2 | Second development aircraft. |
| 1976 | CH-3 Colibrí | Named after the hummingbird. |
| 1982 | CH-4 | |
| 1986 | CH-5 AG | Agricultural variant. |
| 1987 | CH-6 | Rights acquired by Italian HeliSport in 1989; basis for the HeliSport CH-7 series. |
| 1993 | CH-8 UL | Ultralight two-seat design. |
| 1995 | CH-9 | |
| 1999 | CH-6T | Turbine-powered CH-6 variant. |
| — | CH-11 | Coaxial rotor configuration. |
| 2007 | CH-14 | One prototype built. Defence-oriented, turbine engine. |
| Current | SVH-4 | Helicopter flight trainer on mobile ground platform. Rotax 912, 100 hp. |
| Current | Cicaré 7B | Single seat, Rotax 912 ULS, 100 hp. |
| Current | Cicaré 7T | Two seat tandem, Rotax 914 UL, 115 hp. |
| Current | Cicaré 8 | Two seat side-by-side ULM, Epapower 917Ti / Rotax 915, 135–150 hp. |
| Current | Cicaré 12 | Two seat side-by-side, Lycoming HIO-360, 180 hp. |
The Primary-Source Record
Technical documentation for Cicaré designs — maintenance manuals, parts references, and engineering data — represents a niche but genuinely valuable archival resource for restorers, kit builders, and researchers working with these aircraft. The Online Aviation Library's Argentine Aviation Collection covers the primary-source documentation tradition of Argentine manufacturers, of which Cicaré is one of the most distinctive examples.
A Legacy of Independent Engineering
What makes Cicaré remarkable is not any single aircraft, but the continuity of the enterprise. From the CH-1 in 1961 to the Cicaré 12 today, the company has maintained an unbroken thread of indigenous helicopter development — adapting to new powerplants, new regulations, and new markets without losing its essential character as a precision engineering workshop with a clear design philosophy. In a world of consolidation and corporate aerospace, that is a genuinely rare thing.