Described as the ultimate piston-powered aircraft, the Beechcraft Baron 58 is a twin-engine light aircraft known for its impressive performance, reliability, and versatility. Introduced for the model year 1969, the larger, more robust Baron 58 was developed from the Baron 55, with an increased gross weight of 5,400 lb (2,400 kg). The most notable change was a fuselage stretch of 10 inches (25 cm) and the introduction of double rear fuselage doors and reversible club seats in the center row, eliminating the need for passengers to climb over the center seats or through the rear baggage door. The entire fuselage was repositioned forward on the wing to address the aft CG issue that plagued the short-body models. The longer 58 fuselage has four side windows while the 55 and 56 fuselages have three. That is why the 58 has become far more popular with commercial air charter and cargo operators than the smaller 55 and 56.
Variants of the Baron 58 include the pressurised 58P, the turbocharged 58TC, and the G58 with its glass cockpit and Garmin G1000 NXi avionics. Depending on the variant, the Baron 58 is fitted with either a Continental IO-520 or IO-550 300 horsepower engine. The Baron 58 can cruise at 200 knots (370 km/h) at 7000 ft (2100 m). The turbocharged Baron 58TC and pressurised Baron 58P were introduced in 1976, powered by turbocharged Continental TIO-520s delivering 310-325 horsepower and capable of cruising at 370 km/h at 8,000 feet and 410 km/h at 20,000 feet. The Beechcraft Baron 58's air-conditioned and soundproofed cabin has four passenger seats, arranged in a club configuration behind the cockpit with reading lights, stow-away tables and cupholders. The current production version, the G58, offers modern amenities like leather seats, powered headset jacks, dual USB ports and climate-controlled individual air vents. Textron Aviation claims the Baron G58 has a maximum range of 2,741 km.
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What is the Beechcraft Baron?
The Beechcraft Baron is a light twin-engined piston aircraft, a low-wing monoplane. Beechcraft Baron’s first flight was on February 29, 1960. The Beechcraft Baron was developed from the Beechcraft Travel Air and Beechcraft Bonanza family.
The Beechcraft Baron is a light twin-engined piston aircraft designed and produced by Beechcraft. It is a low-wing monoplane developed from the Beechcraft Travel Air. All use the ICAO aircraft type designator BE55. However, 94 Baron 56TC aircraft were built between 1967 and 1971, and all use the ICAO type designator BE56. The ICAO type designator of all Baron 58 models is BE58. The Baron 58 has 250 hp engines.
What are the specifications of the Beechcraft Baron 58?
The Beechcraft Baron 58 and the G58 variant have a length of 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m), a wing span of 37 ft 10 in (11.53 m), and an overall height of 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m). The cabin interior length is 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m), with a maximum cabin height of 4 ft 2 in (1.27 m) and a cabin width of 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m). The external baggage volume is 46 cubic feet. The maximum takeoff weight is 5,500 lbs (2,495 kg) and the maximum landing weight is 5,400 lb (2,449 kg). The basic empty weight is approximately 4,030 lbs (1,828 kg), and the usable fuel capacity is 194 gallons (734 liters).
The maximum cruise speed at an altitude of 6,000 ft (1,829 m) is 202 ktas (374 km/h). At high-speed cruise, fuel consumption reaches 34-36 gallons per hour (128.7-136.3 liters per hour). Economy cruise yields roughly 165-175 KTAS with a fuel burn around 30-32 gph. Owners report fuel burn rates ranging from 27.1 to 32 gallons per hour (102.6 to 121.1 liters per hour). The maximum range is 1,480 nm (2,741 km), and the service ceiling is 20,688 ft (6,306 m). The rate of climb is 1,735 fpm, and the climb rate with one engine in-op is 390 fpm. The takeoff distance over a 50 ft (15.2 m) obstacle is 2,345 ft (714.8 m), with a ground roll of 1,373 ft (418.5 m). The landing distance over a 50 ft obstacle is 2,490 ft (759 m), with a ground roll of 1,440 ft (439 m). Runway length needed changes by weight, height above sea level, wind, and temperature.
The Baron G58 is powered by two Continental IO-550-C engines, each with a power rating of 300 hp. These are normally aspirated, fuel-injected engines. The Baron 58 does not have turbine engines. The airplane uses constant speed propellers and has a Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite. Maintenance costs for the Baron 58P and 58TC are higher due to turbocharged engines and pressurization systems. These engines have increased horsepower, up to 325 hp or 375 hp for the 58P. The Baron 58P has a pressurized cabin and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters). The Beechcraft Baron 58 has a strong safety record and does not have float operations approval. The 58P has identifiers TJ1 through TJ168.
What is the cruise speed of a Beechcraft Baron 58?
The Beechcraft Baron 58 has a cruise speed of 200 knots (230 mph) at 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) under standard conditions. The Baron G58, powered by two IO-550-C engines, has a maximum cruise speed of 202 knots at 75% power. A typical Baron 58 cruises around 180-190 KTAS at mid altitudes, while the Baron G58 and turbocharged 58TC variants can exceed 200 KTAS when operating at higher flight levels. Economy cruise settings yield roughly 165-175 KTAS (190-201 mph or 306-324 km/h) with fuel burn around 30-32 gallons per hour (114-121 liters per hour), while high-speed cruise pushes 190-202 KTAS (219-232 mph or 352-374 km/h) with fuel consumption reaching 34-36 gph (129-136 liters per hour) total.
The turbocharged Baron 58TC and pressurized Baron 58P can cruise at speeds of 200 knots (230 mph) at 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) and 220 knots (253 mph) at 20,000 feet (6,096 meters). The Baron G58 has average cruise speeds of about 190 to 195 miles per hour (306 to 314 kilometers per hour) at 75% power, and older Baron 58 models have a speed range of between 185 and 200 knots (343 to 370 kilometers per hour). The airplane gets heavier, and cruise speed falls because heavier mass increases weight on the wings, which increases drag and weakens cruise speed.
The Beechcraft Baron 58 has a landing speed of 91 nautical miles per hour (168.5 kilometers per hour), and pilots aim for a speed over the threshold of 80 to 85 miles per hour (128.7 to 136.8 kilometers per hour). Approach speed is 1.3 multiplied by Vso, and Vso is the power-off stalling speed with flaps extended, which is 74 knots. The approach speed with flaps for landing is 130 miles per hour (209 kilometers per hour), and the pattern speed is 105 to 110 nautical miles per hour (194 to 204 kilometers per hour). The maximum speed for extended flaps is 122 knots, and the flap limit speed is 152 knots indicated airspeed. VNE is the never-exceed speed, and going faster than VNE causes breakage. VNO is the maximum speed for routine operations, and it has a ceiling on the normal range. Due to the landing-gear lever, the Baron 58 has a landing configuration where stall speed is 74 knots, and the landing distance table shows the speed for clearing a 50-foot barrier, which changes by plane weight.
What engines power the Beechcraft Baron 58?
The Beechcraft Baron 58 is powered by two Continental piston engines, depending on the variant. The Baron 58 is normally fitted with either a Continental IO-520 or IO-550 engine, both rated at 300 hp. The current production Baron G58 uses two Continental IO-550-C engines, and these have a compression where the air and fuel is squeezed at 8.5:1. These engines are six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, and they drive McCauley three-blade constant-speed propellers. That is why the Baron 58 is very fast, due to the 300 hp per engine.
Time between overhauls for IO-520 models ranges from 1,700 to 2,000 flight hours, and the IO-550 line has a TBO between 1,700 and 2,000 hours as well. The IO-520A has a TBO of 1,900 hours. The engines are designed for aviation gasoline grade 100LL (blue) or grade 100 (green); 100LL is preferred. The Baron G58's fuel system provides an independent fuel supply for each engine from its wing tank, connected by a crossfeed line, and total usable fuel is 194 gallons (734 liters). So each engine draws fuel from its own system, and if needed, they can crossfeed.
Each engine drives a 100-amp gear-driven alternator for the 28-volt electrical system. Engine performance is shown on the G1000 Engine Indicating System on the MFD. The EIS displays manifold pressure, cylinder head temperature, oil temperature, fuel flow, RPM, and oil pressure. This information is processed by the Garmin Engine/Airframe units, and if a sensor shows a caution range, the display turns yellow or red for warnings. The constant-speed propellers use engine oil pressure but if oil pressure is lost, the propeller goes to full high pitch. For ice protection, the propellers have electrically heated de-ice boots bonded to each blade. The engines also supply pneumatic pressure for surface de-ice boots on the wings and tail, because of engine-driven pneumatic pumps.
What is the interior of the Beechcraft Baron 58 like?
The Beechcraft Baron 58’s interior is spacious, comfortable, and versatile. The air-conditioned and soundproofed cabin has four passenger seats in a club configuration, with reading lights, cupholders, and stow-away tables. The standard layout places the third and fourth seats facing aft, and fifth and sixth seats facing forward. The cabin height is 50 inches (127 centimeters), and eight gray tinted UV-protected windows are installed. Two center windows open for ground ventilation and emergency egress. The two aft seats fold down to increase cargo capacity, which is accessible through double doors.
The newer G58 model features a fuselage stretch of 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) with double rear fuselage doors, eliminating the need to climb over seats to access the rear. The G58 offers modern amenities like leather seats, climate-controlled air vents, dual USB ports, and powered headset jacks. The cabin is 137 cubic feet, accommodating a pilot and five passengers with visibility from a large wrap-around windshield and six large side windows. There is generous head and shoulder room, and very comfortable foot and leg room. The standard club-four arrangement has burl wood accents, a personal multimedia jack panel, and LED lighting. Seats five and six can be removed without special tools, making it easy for cargo requirements. Passenger ingress is through a 45-inch by 35-inch double door with a storage compartment, and a 37-inch by 36-inch forward door.
The original Beechcraft Baron 58 is not pressurized. However, in 1976, the pressurized Baron 58P was introduced. It has a pressurized cabin, powered by two Continental TSIO-520-L engines with 375 HP (280 kW) each, and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters). The turbocharged Baron 58TC was also introduced that year, but only the 58P has a pressurized cabin.
What is the typical price range of a Beechcraft Baron 58?
The average price of a pre-owned Beechcraft Baron 58 is $295,000. Used models vary widely: 1970s-1980s models range from $140,000-$300,000, 1990s-2000s models cost $300,000-$450,000, and modern G58 variants cost $600,000-$1,300,000+. New Beechcraft Baron costs approximately $520,000-$580,000 depending on avionics and configuration. A new Beechcraft Baron G58 costs around $1.5 million (USD). A new base model G58 Baron from the Textron factory is $1,740,000, and with a few additional option upgrades it's $1,800,000. Pre-owned Beechcraft Baron G58s have a price range of $700,000 to $1,300,000 for 2015 and recent, and $450,000 to $700,000 for 2008 to 2015 versions. Total annual costs average approximately $36,275 for 100 flight hours, including fixed costs of $9,775 and variable costs of $26,500. Hourly operating costs are approximately $265-$270 all-in.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
