Top speed 138 km/h First flight October 29, 1956 | Length 11 m | |
Manufacturers Allied Aero Industries, Omega Aircraft Corp | ||
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.
Contents
Design & development
After qualified success with his Sznycer SG-VI-D and SG-VI-E single-engined helicopters, Bernard Sznycer expanded his concepts to produce a flying crane / utility helicopter, intended to be inexpensive to produce and relatively cheap to operate. Sznycer designed the BS-12 as a cargo or flying crane helicopter with optional passenger accommodation and licensed development and production to the Omega Aircraft Corp. Powered by twin piston engines mounted horizontally on either side of the main gearbox the BS-12 was designed to be safe in an emergency for single-engined flight even at high gross weights. Accommodation in the flying crane version was for four, (later 5 in the BS-12D), including flight crew, which could be augmented by an underslung passenger cabin.
Operational history
The first example was tested in 1956. By 1960 the program was canceled.
Variants
Specifications (BS-12)
Data from Popular Science
General characteristics
Performance