Cicaré
Argentine helicopter and rotorcraft manufacturer founded by aircraft designer Augusto Cicaré.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Cicaré is an Argentine helicopter and rotorcraft manufacturer based in Saladillo, in Buenos Aires Province. The company grew out of Augusto Cicaré’s efforts to design and build aircraft independently in Argentina. It was established in the 1970s under the name Cicaré Aeronáutica S.A., was later known as Cicaré Helicópteros S.A., and is also identified as Cicaré S.A. Its work has centered on compact helicopters, experimental rotorcraft, light recreational aircraft, training systems, and related aviation engineering. Augusto Cicaré began developing aircraft of his own design before the company’s formal industrial identity was established. The early program produced a succession of prototypes, including the CH-1 in 1961, the CH-2 in 1964, and the CH-3 Colibri in 1976. Other designs followed during the 1980s and 1990s, including the CH-4, CH-5 AG, CH-6, CH-8 UL, CH-9, and the coaxial CH-11. These projects established Cicaré as a small, design-led rotorcraft enterprise rather than a mass-production manufacturer. Several aircraft were experimental or limited-production designs, and the company’s early prototypes did not achieve broad commercial success. A significant part of Cicaré’s reputation came from its ability to develop unconventional and specialized light-helicopter concepts. The company also created the Cicaré SVH-4 helicopter training system, which mounts a conventional helicopter on a mobile platform. The arrangement allows a trainee to operate the main flight controls while the platform restricts or moderates the aircraft’s movement. It is intended to provide practice in lift-off, hovering, and hover taxiing at a lower level of risk than unrestricted flight training. The company’s commercial profile improved in the 1990s with the CH-7 light sporting helicopter. The CH-7 was based on the CH-6 design after the Italian company HeliSport acquired rights to the earlier aircraft in 1989 and developed a new design from it. This relationship helped connect Cicaré’s rotorcraft concepts with an international light-helicopter market. Cicaré subsequently continued to develop its own aircraft and prototypes, including the CH-6T and other light rotorcraft. Cicaré also participated in Argentine military aviation development. In March 2007, the first prototype of the CH-14, a light turbine-powered helicopter intended for the Argentine Army, was completed. The CH-14 represented a move beyond recreational and experimental light helicopters toward a defense-oriented platform, although the program did not become a large-scale production success. The company presented the CH-7B and CH-12 at the EAA Argentina Annual Meeting on March 18, 2010, demonstrating its continuing focus on lightweight sport, utility, and experimental helicopters. Cicaré’s aircraft and engineering work have reached customers or aviation communities outside Argentina. Reported export markets include Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Taiwan, China, and Alaska. The company’s identity remains associated with specialized, relatively small-scale rotorcraft development, personal and recreational helicopters, experimental designs, and training technology. It is best understood as an independent Argentine aerospace manufacturer whose significance lies in the breadth of its indigenous designs and the long-running work of its founder, rather than in high-volume aircraft production.
History
Cicaré’s history is rooted in the aircraft experiments of Argentine designer Augusto Cicaré. Before the company became an established manufacturer, Cicaré designed and constructed a series of rotorcraft in Argentina. The early chronology includes the CH-1 in 1961 and the CH-2 in 1964, followed by the CH-3 Colibri in 1976. Cicaré Aeronáutica S.A. was founded in the 1970s in Saladillo, Buenos Aires Province, giving the design program a formal corporate structure. During the 1970s and 1980s, the company continued to produce experimental and developmental aircraft. The CH-4 appeared in 1982, the agricultural-oriented CH-5 AG in 1986, and the CH-6 in 1987. Cicaré also developed the Cicaré 4C2T engine in 1973. These projects reflected the company’s approach of pursuing internally designed aircraft and propulsion concepts in a market dominated by larger international manufacturers. Although the prototypes demonstrated technical ambition, the company did not initially achieve broad commercial success. The CH-6 became important to Cicaré’s later international profile. In 1989, rights connected with the CH-6 were acquired by the Italian company HeliSport, which developed the CH-7 from the earlier design. The CH-7 light sporting helicopter subsequently became one of the best-known aircraft associated with the Cicaré design lineage and helped establish recognition in the light-helicopter sector. Cicaré’s own design activity continued through the 1990s. The company worked on the CH-6T in 1999, as well as the CH-8 UL, CH-9, and CH-11 coaxial helicopter. The company also developed the SVH-4 helicopter trainer, a conventional helicopter fitted to a mobile ground platform. This system allows students to use the normal flight controls, practice lifting into a low hover, and perform hover taxiing while the platform’s wheels and pneumatic cylinders constrain and adjust the training environment. The company later pursued defense-related work. The CH-14 was developed as a light turbine-powered helicopter for the Argentine Army, and its first prototype was ready in March 2007. The aircraft represented an attempt to apply Cicaré’s lightweight rotorcraft expertise to a military requirement. The program produced a prototype but did not become a major production program. On March 18, 2010, Cicaré presented the CH-7B and CH-12 at the EAA Argentina Annual Meeting. These aircraft reflected the company’s continuing interest in light sporting, recreational, and utility rotorcraft. Cicaré has also reported an international customer and export presence extending to Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Taiwan, China, and Alaska. The company has used several legal or trading names over its history, including Cicaré Aeronáutica S.A., Cicaré Helicópteros S.A., and Cicaré S.A. Its historical importance comes from the sustained development of Argentine-designed helicopters across recreational, experimental, training, civil utility, and defense applications. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about current ownership, management, production volumes, financial performance, or the precise status of every aircraft program.
- 2010
CH-7B and CH-12 presented
[1]Cicaré presented the CH-7B and CH-12 at the EAA Argentina Annual Meeting on March 18.
- 2007
First CH-14 prototype completed
[1]The first CH-14 prototype was ready in March for an Argentine Army light-helicopter program.
- 1989
CH-6 rights acquired by HeliSport
[1]The Italian company HeliSport acquired rights to the CH-6 and developed the CH-7 from that design.
- 1976
CH-3 Colibri developed
[1]The CH-3 Colibri became part of the company’s continuing sequence of indigenous helicopter designs.
- 1973
4C2T engine developed
[1]Cicaré developed the 4C2T aircraft engine.
- 1970
Cicaré Aeronáutica established
[1]Cicaré Aeronáutica S.A. was founded in Saladillo, Buenos Aires Province, to develop aircraft designed by Augusto Cicaré.
- 1964
CH-2 developed
[1]The CH-2 followed as another early Cicaré rotorcraft design.
- 1961
CH-1 developed
[1]Augusto Cicaré developed the CH-1, one of the earliest aircraft in the company’s design lineage.
Products and positioning
A specialist Argentine rotorcraft manufacturer focused on indigenous helicopter design, lightweight sporting and recreational aircraft, experimental platforms, defense prototypes, and helicopter-training technology.
Light sporting helicopter · 1990
CH-7
The CH-7 is a light sporting helicopter associated with Cicaré’s emergence in the 1990s as a more commercially visible rotorcraft developer. Its design lineage is connected to the CH-6, rights to which were acquired by Italy’s HeliSport in 1989. The CH-7 became one of the most recognizable aircraft derived from Cicaré’s lightweight helicopter work.
Light helicopter · 2010
CH-7B
The CH-7B is a later light-helicopter model presented by Cicaré at the EAA Argentina Annual Meeting in March 2010. The available reference identifies the presentation but does not provide complete technical specifications, production totals, or current availability.
Light rotorcraft · 2010
CH-12
The CH-12 was presented alongside the CH-7B at EAA Argentina in 2010. It represents Cicaré’s continuing development of compact rotorcraft for civilian or specialist aviation uses, although the supplied material does not establish detailed specifications or production status.
Military light helicopter prototype · 2007
CH-14
The CH-14 was a light helicopter powered by a turbine engine and developed for the Argentine Army. The first prototype was ready in March 2007. The aircraft was one of Cicaré’s most substantial attempts to address a defense requirement, but the reference describes only a prototype and does not document series production.
Helicopter training system
SVH-4
The SVH-4 is a conventional helicopter installed on a mobile ground platform. The system retains the helicopter’s flight controls while using free-rotating wheels and pneumatic cylinders to manage movement and vertical travel. It is designed to let students practice lift-off, low-altitude hovering, hover taxiing, and control coordination with a reduced level of operational exposure.
Coaxial helicopter
CH-11
The CH-11 was an experimental coaxial-helicopter design included in Cicaré’s historical aircraft portfolio. The available reference confirms the configuration but does not provide further information about its performance, production, or operational use.
Light helicopter · 1999
CH-6T
The CH-6T was a later development in the CH-6 family, dated to 1999 in the reference material. It forms part of Cicaré’s sequence of lightweight helicopter projects.
Aircraft engine · 1973
4C2T
The Cicaré 4C2T was an aircraft engine developed in 1973. The supplied material identifies the engine but does not provide detailed information about its configuration, output, production volume, or aircraft applications.
Brand decisions
2010
Presentation of the CH-7B and CH-12Product launchBackground
Cicaré continued to promote lightweight rotorcraft at Argentina’s EAA aviation gathering.
Action taken
The company presented the CH-7B and CH-12 at the EAA Argentina Annual Meeting on March 18, 2010.
Aftermath
The presentation demonstrated continued model development, but the supplied material does not establish subsequent production or sales results.
2007
Development of the CH-14 for the Argentine ArmyProduct launchBackground
Cicaré pursued a defense-oriented application for its rotorcraft engineering capabilities.
Action taken
The company developed the CH-14, a light turbine-powered helicopter, and completed its first prototype in March 2007.
Aftermath
The program resulted in a prototype, but the available source does not document a large-scale production order or subsequent operational deployment.
1989
Transfer of CH-6 design rights to HeliSportOtherBackground
The CH-6 was one of Cicaré’s light-helicopter designs and provided the basis for a later international development.
Action taken
Rights to the CH-6 were acquired by the Italian company HeliSport, which produced a new design based on the CH-6 and called it the CH-7.
Aftermath
The transaction connected Cicaré’s design work with the international light-sport-helicopter market. The supplied material does not state the commercial terms or scope of the rights.
Recent events
- 2010
Cicaré presents the CH-7B and CH-12 at EAA Argentina[1]
Product launch
Cicaré presented the CH-7B and CH-12 during the EAA Argentina Annual Meeting on March 18, 2010.
- 2007
First CH-14 prototype completed for Argentine Army light-helicopter program[1]
Product launch · Other
The first prototype of the Cicaré CH-14, a light turbine-powered helicopter intended for the Argentine Army, was ready in March 2007.
- 2007
First Cicaré CH-14 prototype completed for the Argentine Army[1]
Product launch · Other
Cicaré completed the first prototype of the CH-14, a light turbine-powered helicopter developed for the Argentine Army.
Sources1 sources
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