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. It was one of the early twin engine designs to be developed, and had a unique pod-and-boom style design similar to the later Sikorsky S-60
The manufacturer went bankrupt before it entered full production, even though the prototypes were successfully completed with some order after being certified.
The design is noted for pioneering twin-engine utility helicopter design for a variety of commercial uses.
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. Omega's first design was a twin-engined flying crane / utility helicopter, intended to be inexpensive to produce and relatively cheap to operate.
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.
Operational history
The first example made its maiden flight on December 29, 1956. The type was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in April 1961. 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. Although Omega received orders for several BS-12s following certification, shortages of funds stopped production, and Omega entered into bankruptcy in July 1962. 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.
Variants
BS-12
Initial prototype powered by 2x 210hp (156.60kW)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 260hp (193.88kW)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.