The Beechcraft Baron is a light, twin-engined piston aircraft developed
by Beechcraft. The Baron is a variant of the Travel Air, and was introduced in
1961. Design and development
The direct predecessor 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, the Travel Air's tail
was replaced with that of the Beechcraft Debonair, the engine nacelles were
streamlined, six-cylinder engines were added, and the aircraft's name was
changed. In 1960, the Piper Aztec was introduced, utilizing two, 250 hp
Lycoming O-540 engines; Cessna too had improved their 310 with two Continental
IO-470 D, producing 260 hp. Meanwhile, Beechcraft's Bonanza had been improved
with a Continental IO-470-N, but the answer to competition was to make a true
Twin Bonanza. The first model, the 55, was powered by two, six-cylinder
IO-470-L engines, producing 260 hp at 2,625rpm; it was introduced in 1961. It
included the fully swept vertical stabilizer of the Debonair, while still
retaining the four to four+five place seating of the Travel Air.
Since its inception, the Baron has always been near the top of the light
airplane hierarchy. In 2008 a new Baron costs roughly $1,040,000. As expensive
to operate as it is 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. The older Baron variants,
mainly the 55 series, have dropped little in value, with their fair market
prices numerically equal to that of their original pricing, in today's
dollars. Variants
Barons come in three basic types: the Baron 55, Baron 56 and Baron 58, with
several sub-variants each. = Baron 55=
The early Baron 55, A55 and B55 were fitted with 260 hp Continental IO-470
engines and had gross weights of 4880 to 5100 lb. These had a typical cruise
speed of 190 knots at 7000 ft, and came with 116 or 136 US gallon fuel tanks.
The C55, D55 and E55 models had an increased cruise speed of 200 knots due
to the 285 hp Continental IO520s. The gross weights of these later models
increased to 5300 lb. They were about a foot longer than the B55 Barons, and
came with 136, 142, or 166 US gallon fuel tanks.
Model 55 Barons were produced from 1961 to 1983, and 3651 were produced.
Model 95-55 Baron Baron prototype.
55 Introduced 1961. Four to five seat, twin
engined transport, powered by two 260-hp Continental IO-470-l six cylinder piston
engines. 190 units built. Priced at $58,250.
A55 Built 1962 through 1963. Four to five
seats. Improvements were a new instrument panel, interior, and exterior
paint scheme. Priced at $58,950. B55
Introduced in 1964, run through 1982. Four to six-seats. New exterior scheme
and interior design. A 120 lb increase in gross weight to 5,100 lb. Priced at
$59,950, $177,500. C55
Built 1966 through 1967. Four to six seats. Powered by two, 285-hp
Continental IO-520-C piston engines. Increased performance over the B55. Nose
lengthened to accommodate more baggage, avionic equipment, and to improve weight
and balance. Crack prone engine air intake box design changed. Alternators
changed from belt driven to gear driven. 451 aircraft built. Priced at $68,350 in
1966. D55
Built 1968 through 1969. Four to six seats. Introduced new paint scheme and
'speed-slope' windshield. Changed to three blade props and a different flap
configuration. 316 aircraft built. Priced at $73,950 in 1968.
E55 Introduced in 1970, run through 1982.
Four to six seats. Incorporated new paint scheme and interior design.
Improved avionics and panel. Wing-tip lights and rotating beacon made flush;
new entrance step. Also added were 172 US gallon interconnected tanks with one
fill cap per wing became an option in 1976. 433 built. Priced at $83,950 in
1970, $219,500 in 1982. = Baron 56TC=
In 1967, Beechcraft had begun development of a faster, pressurized
twin, the Model 60 Duke; the Duke was to go head-to-head with Cessna's 320
Skyknight. The Duke was to use two turbocharged 380-hp Lycoming
TIO-541-E1A4 engines, therefore, Beech wanted experience working with, and
flying the new engine. The engine was the 380-hp Lycoming TIO-540-E1B4, Beech
produced in limited quantities, fitted to a modified Baron E55, becoming the
56TC. The results of the 56TC were as planned, it proved a good testbed and
experience building model for the Duke's development. However, it was a
noticeably loud airplane, especially so for a Beechcraft. Along with its
increased noise, the 56TC had an increase in structural strength and thus
empty weight to compensate for the higher power. When introduced in 1967,
it was the fastest Beech aircraft, rivaling even the early King Airs sold
at the time. The Baron 56TC was built between 1967 and 1971 with 93 aircraft
produced, production ending due to Duke sales and from the Baron 58, which was
introduced in 1970. 56TC
Introduced in 1967, built until the 1969 model year. Four to six seats. Power
came from two 380-hp Lycoming TIO-540-E1B4 turbocharged piston
engines. 81 aircraft sold. Priced at $89,950 in 1967.
A56TC Introduced 1970, built until 1971. Only
model change throughout the 56 production. Featured new exterior paint
scheme and interior design, new instrument panel, smooth rotating beacon
and navigation lights, nose wheel light. 11 aircraft sold. Priced at $101,750 in
1970. = Baron 58=
Introduced for the model year 1969, the larger, more powerful Baron 58 was
developed from the Baron 55, introducing club seating, double aft baggage doors,
and new gross weight of 5,400 lbs. Depending on the variant, the Baron 58
is fitted with either the Continental IO-520 or IO-550 300-hp engine. The
Baron 58 can cruise at 200 knots at 7000 ft. The lengthening of the fuselage
increased rear baggage space, as well as providing more comfortable six-place
seating over the Baron 55 and 56TC. In 1976, the turbocharged Baron 58TC and
pressurized Baron 58P were introduced. These variants were powered by
turbocharged Continental TIO-520s of 310–325 hp, had an increased 6100–6200
lb gross weight, and were certified under FAR23 with a new type certificate.
The Baron 58P/58TC models were capable of cruising at 200 knots at 8000 ft and
220 knots at 20000 ft, and were typically equipped with 190 US gallon
fuel tanks. A big change in panel/system layout on
5858P 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 1984 and
1985, respectively, the normally aspirated Baron 58 was still in
production as of 2015. The current production version is the
G58, featuring a glass cockpit, improved passenger cabin and changes to selected
airframe details. 58 Baron
Original variant, introduced in 1969 and run through 2004. Four to six seats.
Powered by two 285-hp Continental IO-520-C or Continental IO-550-C piston
engines. 58P Baron
Introduced 1976, run through 1985. Pressurized cabin, powered by two
Continental TSIO-520-L turbocharged piston engines. 494 aircraft built.
Priced at $200,750 in 1976. 58TC Baron
Introduced in 1976, run through 1984. Turbocharged engines, powered by 310 hp
Continental TSIO-520-L engines. First flew October 31, 1975. 149 aircraft
built. Priced at $170,750 in 1976. G58 Baron
Introduced in 2005, currently in production. Essentially same aircraft as
the 58 Baron, with Garmin G1000 glass cockpit avionics.
G58 Baron ISR Introduced in 2013, Beechcraft developed
a low cost ISTAR aircraft for Fuerzas Unidas de Rapida Acción, an agency
within the Puerto Rico Police Department. In 2014, the aircraft was
upgraded with a FLIR 230-HD electro-optical/infrared camera system,
operator’s console that housed the mapping/mission management computer, a
recorder, a multi-band communications radio system and data link for special
mission operators. = T-42A Cochise=
The T-42A Cochise is a military version of the Baron 95-B55 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. = SFERMA SF-60 Marquis=
A Twin 530 hp Astazou X turboprop modification first flown in 1961,
developed from SFERMA's 1960 Twin Bonanza Astazou IIA turboprop
conversion. Operators
= Military Operators= Haiti
Armed Forces of Haiti Mexico
Mexican Air Force Mexican Naval Aviation
Rhodesia Rhodesian Air Force - One aircraft only.
Spain Spanish Air Force
Turkey Turkish Air Force
Turkish Army United States
United States Army Specifications
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77
General characteristics Crew: 1
Capacity: 5 Length: 28 ft 0 in
Wingspan: 37 ft 10 in Height: 9 ft 7 in
Wing area: 199.2 ft² Airfoil: NACA 23016.5 at root, NACA
23010.5 at tip Empty weight: 3,156 lb
Max. takeoff weight: 5,100 lb Powerplant: 2 × Continental IO-470-L
air-cooled six-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine, 260 hp each
Performance Maximum speed: 205 knots at sea level
Cruise speed: 180 knots 55% power at 12,000 ft
Stall speed: 73 knots IAS, power off, wheels and flaps down
Range: 942 nmi 65% power at 10,500 ft, 45 min reserves
Service ceiling: 19,700 ft Rate of climb: 1,670 ft/min
See also Related development
Beechcraft Bonanza Beechcraft Travel Air
Bay Super V Bonanza Aircraft of comparable role,
configuration and era Beechcraft Twin Bonanza
Cessna 310 EM-11 Orka
Piper Seneca Let L-200 Morava
Related lists List of military aircraft of the United
States References
= Notes= = Bibliography=
Andrade, John. Militair 1982. London: Aviation Press Limited, 1982. ISBN 0
907898 01 7 Ball, Larry A: From Travel Air to
Baron...How Beech Created a Classic, Ball Publications, 1994. ISBN
0-9641514-0-5 Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft
Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife Publishing, 1990. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.
Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's
Yearbooks, 1976, ISBN 0-354-00538-3. Wheeler, Barry C. "World's Air Forces
1979". Flight International, 4 August 1979. Vol. 116, No. 3672. pp. 333–386.
= Further reading= Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and
Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994-95. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group,
1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7. External links
Official Beechcraft Baron site GlobalSecurity.org: T-42 Cochise