Gidroplan Tsikada

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Tsikada | logo = | logo_size = | image = Flight! Cicada-M3 RA-1625G (9141455907).jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Utility and agricultural aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Russia]] | manufacturer = [[Gidroplan LLC]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 6 of two-seat versions | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = c.2000 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Gidroplan Tsikada''' ('''Гидроплан Цикада''' or '''Hydroplane Cicada''') is a light, twin engined [[utility aircraft]], seating two or four in different variants, developed in [[Russia]] since about 2000.

==Design and development== At different times and in different places the Tsikada or Sky Wind series has been marketed either under the company name, Gidroplan, or under its English translation, Hydroplane.<ref name=RussiaJ/><ref name=JAWA13/> The earliest Tsikada was shown in 2000 and was a [[monoplane#Types of monoplane|high-wing monoplane]], with twin engines mounted above and forward of the wing [[leading edge]].<ref name=RussiaJ/> This arrangement has been maintained through later versions. The original aircraft was a two seater with two doors, powered by {{convert|48|kW|hp|abbr=on|0}} [[Rotax 582]] engines. It was followed in 2007 by the Tsikada-M or Sky Wind 1, which had more powerful [[Jabiru]] engines and modifications to the fuselage and cabin, the [[Landing gear|undercarriage]] and the control systems.<ref name=JAWA13/>

A four-seat prototype, the Tsikada-3M, preceded a four-seat, four-door, four-window production version known as the Tskiada-4 or Sky Wind-AT, which is {{convert|400|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} longer than before. The earlier [[flaperon]]s were replaced with separate [[flap (aircraft)|flap]]s and [[aileron]]s. The prototype finished flight trials in July 2009 and the Tsikada-4 was first flown in August, followed by production the following year.<ref name=JAWA13/>

The Tsikada has a metal wing, rectangular in plan and with small downturned [[wing tip|tips]]. The engines are mounted over the wing as close together as the [[propeller (aircraft)|propeller discs]] allow. They, and the wing centre section are supported over the [[fuselage]] by a short [[cabane strut|cabane]]; a single [[aircraft fairing|faired]] [[strut]] on each side braces the wing to the lower fuselage, assisted by a [[jury strut]]. The [[composite material|composite]] skinned fuselage has one or two rows of [[tandem#Side-by-side seating|side by side seats]], each with a pair of side windows in the doors, behind a single piece windscreen. There is a baggage compartment with a maximum load of {{convert|40|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}. Aft of the cabin the fuselage tapers, with an upswept underside, to a tall swept [[fin]] and [[balanced rudder]]. The rectangular [[tailplane]], externally braced from above and carrying separate, unbalanced [[elevator (aircraft)|elevator]]s with a cut-out for rudder movement, is mounted on the fin a little above the fuselage. The [[tricycle gear|tricycle undercarriage]] has mainwheels on sprung cantilever legs and a steerable [[oleo strut|oleo]] sprung nose wheel. A chemical hopper with underwing spray bar and discharge chute from the central fuselage underside is an option.<ref name=JAWA13/>

==Operational history== Three Tsikada-Ms were supplied to [[Cuba]], the first for anti-mosquito spraying, between 2008 and 2010.<ref name=JAWA13/> In all, six two-seat Tsikadas were built.<ref name=JAWA09/>

==Variants== ;Tsikada: Original Rotax powered two-seater ;Tsikada-M (Sky Wind-1): Jabiru powered two-seater ;Tsikada-M3: Four seat Tsikada-4 development aircraft ;Tsikada-4 (Sky Wind-AT): Four seat, Jabiru powered

==Specifications (Tsikada-4) == {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2013-14, p. 522<ref name=JAWA13/> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|prop blade number=2 |prop name= |prop dia m=1.55 |prop dia note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=189 |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh=150 |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh=63 |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=650 |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=3000 |ceiling note= |g limits=+3.8/-1.5 |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms=5.0 |climb rate note=at sea level |time to altitude= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= *'''Take-off run:''' {{convert|150|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}

|avionics= }}

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== <references>

<ref name=RussiaJ>{{cite news |title=Plane sailing for aircraft inventors |first=Lyuba |last=Pronina |url=http://russiajournal.com/archive/The_Russia_Journal/2000/March/13.03.2000/Mon_Mar_13_2000_Complete_Issue.pdf |newspaper=The Russia Journal, vol. 9, no.3 |date=13–19 March 2000 |access-date=15 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017122127/http://russiajournal.com/archive/The_Russia_Journal/2000/March/13.03.2000/Mon_Mar_13_2000_Complete_Issue.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

<ref name=JAWA09>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2009-2010|last= Jackson |first= Paul |year=2009|publisher=Jane's Information Group|location=Coulsdon, Surrey|isbn=9780710628800 |page=462}}</ref>

<ref name=JAWA13>{{cite book |title= Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2013-14|last= Jackson |first= Paul A. |year=2013|publisher=IHS Global|isbn=978-0-7106-3040-7 |page=522}}</ref>

</references>

[[Category:Agricultural aircraft]] [[Category:2000s Russian civil utility aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 2000]] [[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]