General Aviation

Beech 58

Manufacturer: BEECH

The Beechcraft Baron is a light twin‑engined piston aircraft introduced in 1961 by Beechcraft. It evolved from the Travel Air and features a low‑wing monoplane design with a stretched fuselage and twin Lycoming engines. The Baron has remained in production for decades and is still supported by Textron Aviation.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
beech-58
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
725
Example Registration
N100JP

Specifications

Wingspan
11.53 m / 37 ft
Length
8.53 m / 28 ft
Height
2.92 m / 9 ft
Max Speed
380 km/h / 236 mph
Cruise Speed
330 km/h / 210 mph
Range
1745 km / 942 nmi
Ceiling
6000 m / 19700 ft
First Flight
1960-02-29
Production Start
1961
Total Built
7006

Aircraft Overview

History

The Baron was developed as a true twin‑engine variant of the Bonanza, replacing the Travel Air's tail with that of the Debonair and adding two six‑cylinder engines. The first model, the 55, entered service in 1961 with IO‑470 engines. Production continued through the 1980s, and the aircraft remained in production until Textron announced its end in 2025, with parts support continuing indefinitely.

Design

The Baron features a low‑wing monoplane with a fully swept vertical stabilizer from the Debonair and a streamlined engine nacelle. It seats four to six passengers in two or three rows, with optional rear seats. The fuselage was stretched by 10 inches in the 58 model to improve rear‑cabin access and balance. The aircraft typically cruises at 190–200 knots at 7,000 ft.

Variants

Baron models are grouped into the short‑body 55 and 56 series and the long‑body 58 series. The 55 used IO‑470 engines (260 hp) and later IO‑520 (285 hp). The 56TC introduced turbocharged 380 hp engines for speed. The 58, introduced in 1969, stretched the fuselage, added double rear doors, and offered IO‑520 or IO‑550 engines (300 hp). Turbocharged and pressurized 58TC/58P variants appeared in 1976, but were discontinued in the mid‑1980s.

Operations

The Baron is widely used for general aviation, flight training, and charter services. Its long‑body 58 variant is popular with commercial air charter and cargo operators due to its spacious cabin and rear‑door access. Military and government operators have employed the aircraft, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and several foreign air forces. The Baron remains in active service worldwide, with parts and support supplied by Textron.

Notable Facts

  • The Baron 58 first flew on 23 June 1969.
  • Textron announced production would end in November 2025, but will provide parts indefinitely.
  • The 56TC variant was the fastest Beech aircraft at its introduction, rivaling early King Airs.
  • The 58 variant’s fuselage stretch of 10 inches improved rear‑cabin access and balance.
  • The Baron has been used by the U.S. Army as the T‑42A Cochise instrument trainer.
  • The Baron 58P and 58TC were turbocharged and pressurized variants introduced in 1976.
  • The Baron 55 model had a maximum cruise speed of 190 knots at 7,000 ft.

Variants

  • 58- 725 registrations - Example N100JP

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources