Beechcraft Baron
The Beechcraft Baron is a light twin-engined piston aircraft designed and produced by Beechcraft. The aircraft was introduced in 1961. It is a low-wing monoplane developed from the Beechcraft Travel Air.
The Baron was a success and remained in production for decades. In November 2025, Textron Aviation announced that production of the Baron and the related Beechcraft Bonanza will end once current orders are fulfilled. Textron plans to provide parts and support for the Baron indefinitely.
Design and development
The direct predecessor of the Baron was the Beechcraft 95 Travel Air, which incorporated the fuselage of the Bonanza and the tail control surfaces of the T-34 Mentor military trainer. To create the new airplane, the Travel Air's tail was replaced with that of the Beechcraft Debonair, the engine nacelles were streamlined, six-cylinder engines were added, and the aircraft's name was changed. In 1960, the Piper Aztec was introduced, using two Lycoming O-540 engines; Cessna too had improved its 310 with two Continental IO-470 D, producing. Meanwhile, Beechcraft's Bonanza had been improved with a Continental IO-470-N. But the answer to competition was to make a true twin-engined variant of the Bonanza. The first model, the 55, was powered by two six-cylinder IO-470-L engines producing at 2,625rpm each; it was introduced in 1961. The first Baron included the fully-swept vertical stabilizer of the Debonair while still retaining the four to four+five place seating of the Travel Air.Variants
Barons come in three basic types: the Baron 55, Baron 56 and Baron 58, with several sub-variants each.Baron 55
The early Baron 55, A55 and B55 were fitted with Continental IO-470 engines and had gross weights of ). These had a typical cruise speed of 190 knots at 7000 ft, and came with fuel tanks. Although its performance was eclipsed by the later variants, the B55 continued to be offered as the basic economy model until the end of the Baron 55 model run, and it would ultimately capture about half of total 55-series sales.The C55, D55 and E55 models used Continental IO-520 engines, increasing cruise speed to. Gross weight increased to and the forward fuselage was lengthened by to increase baggage space in the nose.,, or fuel tanks were offered.
The Baron 55 was sold with four seats in two rows as standard equipment; a third-row fifth seat was optional initially, and a sixth seat became optional on the A55. However, the lack of a rear passenger door or a second-row pass-through hampers access to the third-row seats, and adults often find the rear fuselage taper confining. Additionally, the aircraft tend to exceed the aft center of gravity limit with all six seats occupied and no baggage in the nose compartment to act as counterbalance. Owners often remove the third-row seats and use the rear fuselage as additional baggage space.
Model 55 Barons were produced from 1961 to 1983, with 3,651 manufactured. All use the ICAO aircraft type designator BE55.
;Model 95-55 Baron: Baron prototype. Registration N9695R
;95-55: Introduced 1961. Four to five seat, twin engined transport, powered by two Continental IO-470-l six cylinder piston engines. 190 units built. Priced at $58,250.
;95-A55: Built 1962 through 1963. Four to five seats. Improvements were a new instrument panel, interior, and exterior paint scheme. Priced at $58,950. 309 built.
;95-B55: Introduced in 1964, run through 1982. Four to six-seats. New exterior scheme and interior design. A increase in gross weight to. Priced at $59,950, $177,500. 1951 built.
;95-C55: Built 1966 through 1967. Four to six seats. Powered by two, Continental IO-520-C piston engines. Increased performance over the B55. Nose lengthened to accommodate more baggage or equipment, and to improve weight and balance. Crack-prone engine air intake box design changed. Alternators changed from belt driven to gear driven. Priced at $68,350 in 1966. 451 aircraft built.
;D55: Built 1968 through 1969. Four to six seats. Introduced new paint scheme and 'speed-slope' windshield. Changed to three blade props and a different flap configuration. Priced at $73,950 in 1968. 316 aircraft built.
;E55: Introduced in 1970, run through 1982. Four to six seats. Incorporated new paint scheme and interior design. Improved avionics and panel. Wing-tip lights and rotating beacon made flush; new entrance step. Also added were interconnected tanks with one fill cap per wing became an option in 1976. 433 built. Priced at $83,950 in 1970, $219,500 in 1982. 434 aircraft built.
;C-55: Brazilian Air Force designation of the Model 95-C55.
Baron 56TC
In 1967, Beechcraft had begun development of a faster, pressurized twin, the Model 60 Duke; the Duke was to go head-to-head with Cessna's 320 Skyknight. The Duke was to use two turbocharged Lycoming TIO-541-E1A4 engines, therefore, Beech wanted experience working with, and flying the new engine. The engine was fitted to a modified Baron C55, becoming the 56TC. The results of the 56TC were as planned, it proved a good testbed and experience building model for the Duke's development. However, it was a noticeably loud airplane, especially so for a Beechcraft. Along with its increased noise, the 56TC had an increase in structural strength and thus empty weight to compensate for the higher power. When introduced in 1967, it was the fastest Beech aircraft, rivaling even the early King Airs sold at the time. 94 Baron 56TC aircraft were built between 1967 and 1971 and all use the ICAO type designator BE56.;56TC: First flown on 25 May 1966. Introduced in 1967, built until the 1969 model year. Four to six seats. Power came from two Lycoming TIO-540-E1B4 turbocharged piston engines. Priced at $89,950 in 1967. 82 aircraft sold. Prototype TG-1 retained by the factory.
;A56TC: Introduced 1970, built until 1971. Only model change throughout the 56 production. Featured new exterior paint scheme and interior design, new instrument panel, smooth rotating beacon and navigation lights, nose wheel light. Priced at $101,750 in 1970. 11 sold.
Baron 58
Introduced for the model year 1969, the larger, more powerful Baron 58 was developed from the Baron 55, with an increased gross weight of. Depending on the variant, the Baron 58 is fitted with either Continental IO-520 or IO-550 engines. The Baron 58 can cruise at 200 knots at 7000 ft. The most significant change was a fuselage stretch of 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 to access the rear seats. 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. The larger fuselage and improved rear-cabin access have made the 58 far more popular with commercial air charter and cargo operators than the smaller 55 and 56.The ICAO type designator of all Baron 58 models is BE58.
In 1976, the turbocharged Baron 58TC and pressurized Baron 58P were introduced. These variants were powered by turbocharged Continental TSIO-520s of, had an increased gross weight, and were certified under FAR23 with a new type certificate. The Baron 58P/58TC models were capable of cruising at at 8000 ft and 220 knots at 20000 ft, and were typically equipped with fuel tanks.
In 1984, the instrument panel was redesigned to eliminate the large central control column and engine controls mounted high on the instrument panel to clear it. In pre-1984 aircraft with the optional dual control yokes, the arm to the right-hand yoke partially blocks the radios and some cockpit switches. The redesign provides a more industry-standard control arrangement and increases instrument panel space, but the aircraft lost the option of having a single yoke, which enhanced comfort for a passenger or relief pilot in the right-hand seat.
Although the turbocharged 58TC/58P variants were discontinued in 1984 and 1985, respectively, the normally aspirated Baron 58 was still in production as of 2021. The current production version is the G58, featuring a glass cockpit, improved passenger cabin and changes to selected airframe details.
;58 Baron: Original variant, first flown on 23 June 1969, introduced in 1969 and run through 2004. Four to six seats. Powered by two Continental IO-520-C or Continental IO-550-C piston engines. 2,124 aircraft built.
;58P Baron: Introduced 1976, run through 1985. Pressurized cabin, powered by two Continental TSIO-520-L turbocharged piston engines. Priced at $200,750 in 1976. 495 produced.
;58TC Baron: Introduced in 1976, run through 1984. Turbocharged engines, powered by Continental TSIO-520-L engines. First flew October 31, 1975. Priced at $170,750 in 1976. 151 aircraft sold.
;G58 Baron: Introduced in 2005, currently in production. Version of 58 Baron with Garmin G1000 glass cockpit avionics.
;G58 Baron ISR: Introduced in 2013, Beechcraft developed a low cost ISTAR aircraft for Fuerzas Unidas de Rapida Acción, an agency within the Puerto Rico Police Department. In 2014, the aircraft was upgraded with a FLIR 230-HD electro-optical/infrared camera system, operator's console that housed the mapping/mission management computer, a recorder, a multi-band communications radio system and data link for special mission operators.
T-42A Cochise (95-B55B)
The T-42A Cochise is a military version of the Baron 95-B55 for use by the United States Army as an instrument training aircraft. 65 aircraft were purchased for the Army Aviation School in 1965–1966; a further five were bought commercial off-the-shelf by the U.S. in 1971 from civil B55 production, assigned U.S. military serial numbers, and sold to the Turkish Army.Three Army T-42s were transferred to the United States Navy. By 1993, the Army's remaining T-42 aircraft had been transferred to the Army Reserve and the National Guard and were no longer in standard use. With the exception of three aircraft destroyed in accidents, three donated to technical schools for instructional use, and one at the United States Army Aviation Museum, all U.S. military T-42s were eventually transferred to civil owners as military surplus. In March 2023, the Army Aviation Museum T-42A, serial number 65-12697, was in storage and not on public display.