The Beechcraft Baron P58 is iconic airplane in the aviation industry. It’s successful and long time running is the most successful in it’s class and outlasted other rivals in it’s class from Piper and Cessna. Recently I had the pleasure of photographing the Baron P58 out at Centennial Airport located southeast of Denver Colorado. The one pictured here is for sale represented by Mark Karlin at Arapahoe Aircraft Aero Sales, 303.880.1603
Development of the Baron began in the late 1950s, the first to fly, the Model 9555 on February 29 1960, essentially being a re-engine development of the Model 95 Travel Air (Beech’s first light twin, which first flew in August 1956). As a result the Baron can lay claim to Bonanza and T34 Mentor lineage, as the Travel Air combined the fuselage of the former with the tail of the latter, plus twin engines, a new wing and other new features. Some 720 Travel Airs were built from the late 1950s to the late 1960s.
The first Barons were delivered during early 1961, although these early production examples were soon followed off the line in 1962 by the improved A55. The subsequent B55 of 1965 is a definitive Baron model and remained in production until 1982, during which time it was continually refined. During the B55’s model life other variants entered production, these included the more powerful C55, D55 and E55. In the meantime the turbocharged Baron 56TC appeared in 1967 and the A56TC in 1970, although these were produced only in limited numbers.
The Model 58 is a stretched version of the 55, and first entered production in 1970. It remains in production today, having evolved somewhat in production during that time. Versions include the pressurized 58P and the turbocharged 58TC. Both are powered by 240kW (325hp) Teledyne Continental TSIO520s. Current production (now under the Raytheon Aircraft Company banner) runs at around 40 per year.
The plane has some impressive performance.
Horsepower: 310 | Gross Weight: 6100 lbs |
Top Speed: 231 kts | Empty Weight: 3985 lbs |
Cruise Speed: 207 kts | Fuel Capacity: 166.00 gal |
Stall Speed (dirty): 79 kts | Range: 1104 nm |
Takeoff | Landing |
Ground Roll: 1654 ft | Ground Roll 1471 ft |
Over 50 ft obstacle: 2761 ft | Over 50 ft obstacle: 2498 ft |
Rate Of Climb: 1424 fpm | Rate of Climb (One Engine): 205 fpm |
Ceiling: 25000 ft | Ceiling (One Engine): 13220 ft |