Beechcraft By Textron Aviation

A part of Textron Aviation, Beechcraft was established by Walter and Olive Beech in Wichita, Kansas in 1932. The husband and wife duo then worked with the Vice President of Engineering, Ted Wells, and got to work manufacturing. The first Beechcraft plane built was its Model 17 Staggerwing, which eventually grew to a fleet of 750 produced.

After the production of the Staggerwing, Beechcraft would go on to create several other notable aircraft, including the Bonanza, King Air, Super King Air, and Baron. The Bonanza has the most extended production history of any other plane in the world. The company itself would also see several changes throughout the years, including the acting CEO.

By 1950, Olive Beech had stepped into the role of CEO following her husband’s unexpected death. Eventually, the company sold in 1980 and continued to move through various stages of ownership. In 2014, Textron Aviation closed a deal with Beechcraft and agreed to buy the company for $1.4 billion.

A New Lease On A Light, Twin-Engined Piston Aircraft

Introduced in 1961, the Beechcraft Baron was equipped with two 260 horsepower Continental IO-470 engines. Its performance was basic yet reliable but did not offer much room for comfortability and extra luggage. At the time, Beechcraft was in heavy competition with Piper’s Seneca, another twin-engine aircraft on the market. Fortunately, this was the only true competition out there. Beechcraft eventually shifted gears, introducing the short-bodied Baron 56 and long-bodied Baron 58. The 58 quickly liked its longer body design, improved avionics, comfortable seating, and rear cabin access. Furthermore, it offered an increased gross weight of 5,400 lbs. from its Baron 55 predecessor. Eventually, Beechcraft would release a turbocharged and pressurized variant of the Baron 58.

  • Country of Origin: America

Beechcraft Baron 58 Statistics

200 kts

Maximum Speed

1,276 Nm

Maximum Range

4-6

Maximum Occupants

1969-Current

Range Of Years Manufactured

6,691

Total Aircraft Build

About 3,500

Current Operational Aircraft

1,494 lbs

Useful Load

$482,500

Average Sale Value

190

Average Days On Market For Sale

Buyer Market/ A

VREF Demand Rating

Operational Resources

Operations Manual

Maintenance Documents

Local Resources

Manufacturer

Insurance

Beechcraft Baron 58 Details

The following are details for the 2005 Baron 58.

Interior

The interior of the Baron 58 features club-style seating for added comfort and luxury. While the style of the interior may vary, the Baron 58 offers a signature look with birch leather inserts and trim, a cream stretch-knit headliner, and a cognac bird’s-eye gloss horizontal panel. Cream and fabric-trimmed sidewalls, also in birch leather, add a detailed touch, finished with Acajou mahogany horizontal trim panels. The original interior of this plane features carpet in a neutral shade as well as a cognac bird’s-eye executive writing desk and accessories aligned with its color scheme like fawn seatbelts and birch leather center armrests. Known as the “businessman’s Beechcraft”, the Baron 58 offers a comfortable ride to anyone working on the go.

Exterior

The Baron 58 is a twin-engine aircraft with two props located towards the front. It has a 166-gallon fuel capacity and a sleek curved body. Many were designed using high-gloss paint in color combinations of white, red, black, and gray.

Avionics

The Beechcraft Baron 58 may contain the following avionics:

  • Garmin G1000 NXi
  • Garmin GFC 700 AFCS Autopilot
  • Garmin 1050 PFD
  • Garmin 1055GDU
  • Garmin 1347 Audio Panel
  • GDC 72 ADC
  • Garmin WX-500
  • GRS 79
  • GTX 345R
  • Garmin GWX 68
  • Garmin GMU 44
  • GTX 345 RME 406 ELT
  • Garmin GTS 800 TAS
  • GDL 69A SXM
  • Garmin Synthetic Vision
  • Garmin TAWS-B
  • Flight Stream 510

Specifications

  • Configuration: Twin Engine, Piston
  • Max Seats: 6
  • Landing Roll: 1,425 ft.
  • Length: 29 ft. 10 in.
  • Height: 9 ft. 6 in.
  • Take Off (50 ft.): 2,101 ft.
  • Landing (50 ft.): 1,439 ft.
  • Max Take-Off Weight: 5,500 lbs.
  • Cruise: 203 kts
  • Range: 1,575 Nm
  • Take Off Run: 1,400 ft.
  • Wing Span: 37 ft. 10 in.

All Beechcraft Baron 58 Models

58

The first 58 model was introduced in 1969 and was derived from the Baron 55. This model is powered by two IO-550 300 HP engines. Its increased gross weight, club seating, and other features quickly made it one of the best-selling twin-piston aircraft options on the market. Even the limited-edition versions of the 58 between Beechcraft and Jaguar completely sold out.

Its only real rival is the light twin-engine aircraft, the Piper Seneca. But the Baron 58 pushed its design for added comfort and luxury and soon became a favorite among charter pilots. High-paying travelers have more room to spread out, pack their luggage, etc. In fact, and because of all its extra space, the 58 is also referred to as a “long body” aircraft. The 58 combined a ton of benefits into one twin-engine aircraft, including desired speed, load-carrying ability, short-field prowess, and easy handling.

58P

A pressurized cabin was introduced in 1976 with the 58P variant. It’s powered by two Continental TSIO-520-L turbocharged piston engines and ran through 1985. A total of 495 were produced, and it had an initial price tag of $200,750 in 1976.

58TC

The turbocharged version of the Baron 58 was introduced in 1976 as the 58TC and ran through 1984. It has two turbocharged engines, powered by 310 hp Continental TSIO-520-L. Its first flight took place in the fall of 1975 and was priced at $170,750. 151 of these aircraft sold.

G58

Ready to go in a more modern direction, Beechcraft introduced the G58 in 2005. The G58 Baron features Garmin G1000 glass cockpit avionics and a whole new luxurious experience on board. This version is still in production and is known as a first-class twin-engine aircraft.

The latest versions of the G58 have multiple exterior and interior options and reconfigurable seating for up to 6 people. Seating even offers lumbar support, headrests, and extra legroom. For added comfort in flight, there are also stowaway table features, reading lights, and USB ports for on-the-go charging. Comfortable enough to conduct business, the cabin has soundproofing capabilities and tinted windows for better visibility and protection from the sun.

Other features include:

  • ADS-B Out And In
  • Wireless Database And Flight Plan Loading
  • Garmin Electronic Stability And Protection (ESP)
  • Under Speed Protection (USP)
  • Garmin GI 275 Electronic Standby
  • Integrated VFR Sectional Charts
  • IFR High And Low Charts With Night Mode
  • COM Frequency Decoding
  • Vertical Situation Display
  • Selectable Visual Approaches
  • Guardian Integrated Carbon Monoxide Detector
  • Optional Garmin Connext Satellite Iridium
  • Optional Surface Watch For Runway Safety

The average price of a pre-owned Baron G58 is $925,000.

G58 Baron ISR

In 2013 Beechcraft created a more affordable ISTAR aircraft for Fuerzas Unidas de Rápida Acción (FURA), an agency within the Puerto Rico Police Department. A year later, this modified version was upgraded with a FLIR 230-HD electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera system and an operator’s console that housed the mapping and mission management computer. It also featured a recorder, multi-band communications radio system, and data link. All features were targeted for use during special missions.

T-42A Cochise (95-B55B)

The United States Army has its own Baron, the T-42A Cochise. At one point, the Army Aviation School ordered 65 aircraft to be delivered, as well as an extra 5 to be delivered to the Turkish Army. Years later in 1993, the Army stopped using the T-42A as a standard aviation vehicle. It then transferred its remaining Cochise fleet to the Army Reserve and National Guard.

SFERMA SF-60A Marquis

This unique Baron version is equipped with twin 530 horsepower (400 kW) Astazou X turboprop engines. This particular model’s design was inspired by the first generation of the Baron and SFERMA’s own 1960 Astazou IIA turboprop conversion of a Model 95 Travel Air.

Top Beechcraft Baron 58 Questions

Take a look at the most frequently asked questions about the Baron 58.

Did The Baron 58 Have AFT CG Issues?

No. But the Baron’s short body models did have trouble with its operating Center of Gravity Range. When improved upon in 1969, the long body Baron 58 offered more flexibility with seat configurations and luggage space. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the entire fuselage was repositioned on the wing forward to get rid of the CG issue seen in previous models.

What Is The Landing Speed Of A Beechcraft Baron 58?

FS Flying School recommends “that once below 152 KIAS the pilot may start to lower flaps…Descent to around 500 feet AGL while landing…you want to land with landings flaps (full flaps) at 85 knots IAS.”

The Baron has had landing issues, and according to the AOPA, “One area appears to be significant. Half of the pilot-related accidents in the Baron occurred during landing, compared to 33% with other aircraft. Failure to extend or verify that the landing gear is down is the number-one cause.” The AOPA goes on to address the second-most important cause of landing failures as being an inadvertent retraction on rollout.

In fact, Baron pilots are nearly 5 times as likely to have to extend or retract gear problems at the wrong time as those flying comparable aircraft. It is cited as both a training and aircraft design issue by the AOPA.

The National Transportation Safety Board conducted an investigation in 1980 to reveal why pilots faced trouble when landing their Baron 58 aircraft. As it turns out, the landing gear switch within the 58 design was not located in a traditional spot. Most other manufacturers placed theirs to the right of the throttle quadrant. Because of these findings, Beechcraft adjusted and began following the industry-standard starting in 1984 and continued with later models.

How Much Does A Beechcraft Baron 58 Cost?

The answer to this question depends on which year, make, and model you are looking at. The average Beechcraft Baron 58 costs around $482,500. But buying a newer one, such as the 2022 model, comes with an estimated price tag of $1,599,000.

How Easy Is It To Fly A Beechcraft Baron 58?

Pilots who have flown a Baron 58 have a few tips to make sure each flight is safe and enjoyable. Pilots recommend flying “by the numbers”, traveling light, and making wise use of its glass cockpit capabilities. You can avoid further mistakes by descending below safe altitudes in IMC and paying careful attention to specific power settings, pitch attitudes, flaps, and landing gear configurations.

Furthermore, the Baron’s Garmin G1000 system offers excellent safety features in its latest variants. For example, you can use its broad-scale moving map system with integral weather data links to avoid harsh weather conditions. Practice, train, and educate yourself about the inner workings of the Baron 58 for an enhanced in-flight experience.

What Engine Does A Beechcraft Baron 58 Have?

The latest G58 has two Continental IO-550-C engines with 300 horsepower, giving it a maximum speed of 202 ktas.

What Does The Safety Record For The Beechcraft Baron 58 Look Like?

Compared to other models, the Baron 58 is a safe aircraft to fly. According to the AOPA, between 1982 and 1993, about 80% of Baron-related accidents were due to pilot error. The AOPA said the Baron 58 experienced “4.7 accidents per 100,000 hours versus 5.4 for the other aircraft. Barons were involved in 278 accidents, compared to 837 accidents in the comparable group,” within the same number of years. Out of these accidents, half occurred during landing. Other causes for crashes involving the Baron include ice, thunderstorms, turbulence, and other extreme weather conditions.

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