Baron 55 over the 58?

[Tram]

Hey guys-

We're thinkin about picking up a Baron and we're looking at 55's and 58's.. Everyone knows the 58 costs more and is a "true" 6 place..

How 6 place capable is a 55, for maybe an odd trip or two where 5 or 6 people might go? We're trying to figure out if the cost of the 58 is warranted..

What's we're looking at doing is buying something with runout engines for ~100K and essentially refurb the thing.. Reengine with FADEC, Chelton panel layout, new interior and paint job..

Just trying to get a grasp on whether or not we should snag a 55 or a 58..

Anyone have an opinions?

 

[SabreFlyR]

Hey guys-

We're thinkin about picking up a Baron and we're looking at 55's and 58's.. Everyone knows the 58 costs more and is a "true" 6 place..

How 6 place capable is a 55, for maybe an odd trip or two where 5 or 6 people might go? We're trying to figure out if the cost of the 58 is warranted..

What's we're looking at doing is buying something with runout engines for ~100K and essentially refurb the thing.. Reengine with FADEC, Chelton panel layout, new interior and paint job..

Just trying to get a grasp on whether or not we should snag a 55 or a 58..

Anyone have an opinions?

Those last two seats in the 55 series are really for the kids. Hard to get into them and they are tight and low to the floor. We are adding a Baron 58 to our flight department to transport some some folks on a weekly short trip that just does not make sense to use the Beechjet on. I am not sure you can call a 58 model a true six place airplane, it's still unfortable with four people sitting in the back with thier legs wrapped around each other.

 

[Lostdog65]

I have about 500 hours in a a BE58P....good plane. While it is a true 6 place plane...I hope you don't plan on taking a lot of luggage or fuel...

BTW...if you can find one...get one of the US Forest Services surplus Barons (probably contact Western at Boise). Most of them were very, very well maintained (Every 1000 hours they were gone through with a fine tooth comb, phases every 50 hours, 6 phases constitutes an annual.) Most are between 6-8 thousand hours with a 10K hour pressure vessel. We put about 300 hours on them a year both in the high and low level environment.

my 2 cents...

Eric

 

[sstearns2]

Check out the BE-56TC.

 

[capt_zman]

Both planes are awesome, but I'm partial to the 58. I looked at both and found that the 58 fit my needs better in trying to move my family around. Overall the 58 is a great airplane for a < 500 mile trip. I would always true at 190-195 and be able to put 4 adults, 2 kids and bags comfortably and still put 130 gals of gas on.

Be very careful buying something runout and renovating it. I did the same thing you are planning on doing. New avionics (HSI, garmin 530's, xpdr, tcas, a/p and f/d, audio panel, rdr2000 radar, shadin fuel flow engine monitor, etc), new deice boots, new glass, new fuel bladders, new interior, new paint, new engines, new props, etc. You name it, I probably did it. Pretty much everything I could think of. This sounds all great and all, but I spent a staggering amount of money and only got about 30% of it back when I sold it. It really is a never ending money pit, but it sure was alot of fun.

Anyway, can't go wrong with either airplane, but the 58 fits the multi-pax role a little bit better than the 55.

 

[Lostdog65]

The TC is a rocket compared to the other 58's...no anti/de-icing crap on it, lighter and much more fun to fly!

Eric

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Check out the BE-56TC.

Nice airplane, but you gotta swipe your credit card through each engine nacelle before it will start! On the plus side, the fuel pumps can double duty as irrigation pumps for a small field.

 

[AC560]

but I spent a staggering amount of money and only got about 30% of it back when I sold it.

Find this guys plane and buy it and spend what you save on hookers and drugs!

 

[Black Hawk]

Look into the 55E model. Larger engines but lighter airframe. Good combination if it meets your load requirements.

 

[spudskier]

Another thing to check out if you go for the 55 are VGs, Wing tips and I forget what you call them , but they close the gap between the flaps and the wing when the flaps are up....

I loved the B55 I flew, they used it typically for no more than 4 people or auto parts.