Omega BS-12

Last updated
Omega BS-12
RoleHelicopter
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Omega Aircraft Corp, Allied Aero Industries, ADRC
Designer Bernard W Sznycer
First flightDecember 29, 1956
Introduction1958
Number builtat least 4
Developed from Sznycer SG-VI-E (a.k.a. Sznycer-Gottlieb SG-VI)

The Omega BS-12 was a utility helicopter with high ground clearance designed to carry loads behind the cabin at, or near, the center of gravity. [1]

Contents

Design & development

Bernard Sznycer, designer of the Sznycer SG-VI, the first helicopter certified in Canada, set up the Omega Aircraft Corporation, based at New Bedford, Massachusetts in December 1953, with himself as President and Chief Designer of the company. [2] [3] Omega's first design was a twin-engined flying crane / utility helicopter, intended to be inexpensive to produce and relatively cheap to operate. [2] [4]

The helicopter was of conventional layout, with a single four-bladed lift rotor and a two bladed anti-torque rotor. Its fuselage was of pod-and-boom layout, with a small enclosed crew cabin forward connected to an uncovered steel tube tail boom. Cargo, either a slung load or in a pre-loaded pod, could be carried between the crew cabin and the undercarriage mainwheels, while it was planned to also provide a pod to carry passengers. It was powered by twin piston engines mounted horizontally on either side of the main gearbox. [2] [5] [6]

Operational history

The first example made its maiden flight on December 29, 1956. [2] The type was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in April 1961. [2] Omega planned to build an initial batch of 25 BS-12-D-1s, which were priced at $77,500, with production gradually building up from one per month. [7] Although Omega received orders for several BS-12s following certification, shortages of funds stopped production, and Omega entered into bankruptcy in July 1962. [8] Omega was purchased by the Aeronautical Research and Development Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts, with the intention of putting the BS-12 into production as the ADRC/Omega RD-400. [9]

Variants

BS-12
Initial prototype powered by 2x 210 hp (156.60 kW) Franklin 6AS-335 engines, one built (c/n 156).
BS-12B
Revised BS-12, one built (c/n 1001).
BS-12D-1
Five-seat passenger cabin, powered by 2x 260 hp (193.88 kW) Lycoming O-540-F1B5 engines, two built (c/n 1002 & 1003).
BS-12D-3
The second BS-12D-1 powered by 2x supercharged Franklin 6AS-335 engines. [10]
BS-12F
Projected turboshaft powered version, 2x Allison T63 or Boeing 502-W turbines.
BS-12J
Projected improved hot-high and single-engined performance, powered by 2x 290 hp (216.25 kW) Lycoming IO-540 engines. [11]
BS-14 Falcon
Projected emergency services version, with longer cabin, powered by 2x 260 hp (193.88 kW) Lycoming O-540 or 290 hp (216.25 kW) Lycoming IO-540 engines.
BS-17A Airliner
Projected enlarged passenger cabin version to have been powered by 3x Allison or Boeing turboshaft engines driving a 5-bladed main rotor. [7]
ARDC/Omega RP-400
Planned production version for ARDC. Powered by two 290 hp (220 kW) Lycoming IO-540s. [12]
ARDC/Omega TP-900
Proposed advanced derivate of RP-400, powered by three turboshaft engines. [13]

Specifications (BS-12D1)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1961–62 [2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. "Picture News: Whirlybird Flying Crane". Popular Science. June 1958. p. 94.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Taylor 1961, p. 300
  3. Gunston 2005 , pp. 348, 448
  4. Hawkes Aviation Week May 7, 1956 , p. 50
  5. Hawkes Aviation Week May 7, 1956 , pp. 50–51
  6. Bass Flying October 1961 , pp. 32–33
  7. 1 2 Aviation Week June 12, 1961 , pp. 123, 125
  8. Aviation Week November 11, 1963 , p. 108
  9. Taylor 1967 , p. 193
  10. R.Simpson (1998). Airlife's Helicopter and Rotorcraft.
  11. Aviation Week June 12, 1961 , p. 123
  12. Taylor 1967 , pp. 193–194
  13. Taylor 1969 , pp. 243–244