Everything about Beechcraft Baron totally explained
The
Beechcraft Baron is a light, twin-engined piston aircraft originally developed by
Beech Aircraft Corporation and currently manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of
Raytheon Aircraft (now
Hawker Beechcraft). The Baron is a variant of the
Beechcraft Bonanza, and was introduced in 1961. Oddly, Beech also offered a
Twin Bonanza line, which featured some design commonality with the Bonanza but in all respects were entirely different airplanes and couldn't be considered to be true "twin bonanzas".
Design and development
The progenitor of the Baron was the
Beechcraft 95 Travel Air, which incorporated the fuselage of the Bonanza and the tail control surfaces of the
T-34 Mentor military trainer. To create the new airplane, Beech replaced the Travel Air's tail with that of the
Beechcraft Debonair,
streamlined the engine
nacelles and rechristened the aircraft as the Baron.
In 2007 a
new Baron
cost $1,200,000. Since its inception, the Baron has always been near the top of the light airplane hierarchy. As expensive to operate as it's to buy, the 'next step up' from a Baron is a very big one. Faster aircraft, with greater range and more load-carrying capability are generally
turbine-powered and far more expensive.
Variants
Barons come in two basic types: the Baron 55 (short body) and Baron 58 (long body), with several subtypes.
Baron 55
The early
Baron 55,
55A and
55B were fitted with 260
hp (194 kW) Continental IO470 engines and had gross weights of 4880 to 5100
lb (2,200 to 2,300 kg). These had a typical cruise speed of 190
knots (350 km/h) at 7000
ft (2100 m), and came with 116 or 136
US gallon (440 or 515 L) fuel tanks.
The
55C,
55D and
55E models had an increased cruise speed of 200 knots (370 km/h) due to the 285 hp (213 kW) Continental IO520s. The gross weights of these later models increased to 5300 lb (2400 kg). They were about a foot (0.3 m) longer than the 55B Barons, and came with 136 or 166 US gallon (515 or 628 L) fuel tanks.
Model 55 Barons were produced from 1961 to 1983, and some 3155 were produced.
Beech also produced, in limited quantities, a 56 model Baron, which featured the short fuselage of the 55 series Baron with
Lycoming TIO-541 engines which were turbocharged and produced 380 hp each. At the time, it was the fastest Beech aircraft, rivaling even the early King Airs offered by Beech at the time.
Baron 58
Introduced in 1970, the more powerful
Baron 58 has club seating, double aft doors, and a gross weight of 5400–5500 lb (2450–2500 kg), and is fitted with either the Continental IO520 or IO550 300 hp (224 kW) engine. The Baron 58 can cruise at 200 knots (370 km/h) at 7000 ft (2100 m), and is equipped with either 166 or 190 US gallon (628 or 719 L) fuel tanks.
In 1976, the turbocharged
Baron 58TC and
pressurized Baron 58P were introduced. These variants were powered by turbocharged Continental TIO520s of 310–325 hp (230–240 kW), had an increased 6100–6200 lb (about 2800 kg) gross weight, and were certified under FAR23 with a new type certificate. The Baron 58P/58TC models were capable of cruising at 200 knots (370 km/h) at 8000 ft (2400 m) and 220 knots (410 km/h) at 20000 ft (6100 m), and were typically equipped with 190 US gallon (719 L) fuel tanks.
A big change in panel/system layout on 58/58TC/58P occurred in 1984, including relocating throttle, gear, flap, propeller and mixture controls to industry-standard positions.
Although the turbocharged 58TC/58P variants were discontinued in 1985, the normally aspirated Baron 58 was still in production as of 2008.
A common complaint is that there's very limited room for the pilot and co-pilot. The main wing spar goes under the pilot's seat thus preventing any ability to lower the seat. Indeed, the seats immediately behind the pilot's can be seen to be noticeably lower by about six inches. Any pilot over 5 ft 5 in tall will have very restricted headroom.
T-42A Cochise
The T-42A Cochise is a military version of the Baron 55 for use by the
United States Army as an instrument training aircraft. The Army Aviation School took delivery of 65 aircraft, a further five were bought for delivery to the Turkish Army.
By 1993, the Army's remaining T-42 aircraft had been transferred to the
Army Reserve and the
National Guard and were no longer in standard use.
Operators
Military
