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.

 

[Tinstaafl]

I wouldn't consider the 55 a 6 place a/c at all - unless the last two places are occupied by small kids. Even the 58 is squeezy for 6 adults although OK for short-ish trips. They both have considerable payload vs range tradeoffs.

What about other a/c such as PA 23 Aztec, PA60 Aerostar, C310,

PA23 Aztec: Slower than the others ~160-170 kts depending on model but definitely a true 6 place a/c. Even the rear row have 'chairs' instead of 'bum near the floor & knees near your ears' type of things. Excellent payload/range ability. I used to operate one that could take 6 standard adults + full fuel + ~30 kg bags.

PA60-600 Aerostar (with the 30" wingtip extension): Used to fly these with & without the tip mod in Australia. The mod added 250lb to the MTOW & really made it into a useful aircraft at the cost of 5-10 kts cruise speed. Without they're fast but rather P/R limited. Don't know if the tip extension mod is available in the US.

C310: 'R' model, not earlier. More room than a Baron, including the 58 series. Also a lot more baggage room with the long nose + wing lockers.

Otherwise what about a PA31 Navajo (with the VG kit to increase MTOW). Makes it a comfortable 6 place with good range. I'd try for one with wing lockers & crew door.

Similarly there's the C400 series although the spar AD might be a showstopper.

 

[flyinlow67]

I flew freight in an Aztec and it is truely a 6 place aircraft. The Baron 58 is a 3-4 placer with full fuel. Leave some out and the 58 is a very quick, usable AC.
Ours has the winglets and VG's. The VG's are great, the winglets are not. Haven't seen much benefit to the winglets and they do make it harder to land in a crosswind.

 

[Tram]

Thanks for all the replies guys..

Looks like a 6 place bird may not be needed.. We're thinking a 4 place may fit better into what we're looking for.. Not 100% sure yet, but it looks like it..

We had looked at the Aerostar for a bit, not so sure my dad likes it too much, he didn't seem to care for it..

 

[icefr8dawg]

Thanks for all the replies guys..

Looks like a 6 place bird may not be needed.. We're thinking a 4 place may fit better into what we're looking for.. Not 100% sure yet, but it looks like it..

We had looked at the Aerostar for a bit, not so sure my dad likes it too much, he didn't seem to care for it..

Then you can't beat a 55E model for the price/speed, I've seen 190 indicated on a regular basis in the one I fly. It's been mentioned but I'll say it again. If you don't mind going 160-170 you can save a lot of money and have much more payload in an aztec. Did anyone mention that the engines are 2000tbo in the aztec? Despite what some shops will tell you finding parts is not hard and the hydraulic system is annoying but give it to a guy that knows aztecs and you're set. I've owned several, pm me if you want specific costs.

 

[Tram]

Yeh, my dad and I will will have a partner in the bird, we've been partners with in several other aircraft.. They're talking Eclipse Jet in the near future for 135, I guess we'll see..

What we're really looking for after talking to my dad last night is a:

SOLID 4 place, respectably fast.. 160 knots won't work.. We want 190ish type speed..

 

[Tinstaafl]

For a piston then you're looking at an Aerostar 600 without the tip extension, or a 601 or 700 series (even faster). Otherwise an E55 Baron but forget about much use of the R3 seats. Better to remove them & use the baggage space I think.

Can't think of any other piston twin in that speed range. A C421 near optimum altitude perhaps?

Just curious, but why does your dad dislike of the Aerostar? They're quite a pocket rocket & even the R3 pax have proper searts instead of 'bum on floor' reclined seating. Not tolerant of poor technique though and neither are they a short runway a/c. Have to admit that I like them...

 

[capt_zman]

Solid 4 place, 190 kts = 58 Baron

Just a great flying, easily insurable airplane.

 

[icefr8dawg]

I just flew an E55 and found out the owner wants to sell it. It's at Morristown, NJ. This is the one I refered to earlier in the post. Only problem is that it dosn't have wing and windshield de-ice, I'm not even sure if it's plummed for boots. It's got wet props tho. Good thing is it has new engines, like a hundred hours on the engines. Let me know if you want to talk to the owner.