Is the Beechcraft Baron 58 a complex and high-performance aircraft?

Yes to both. The Baron has retractable gear and constant-speed propellers (complex per FAR 61.31) and twin 300 hp Continental IO-550-C engines (high-performance per FAR 61.31, requiring 200+ hp on at least one engine). Pilots transitioning into the type need both endorsements before acting as PIC.

Why is the Baron 58 used for corporate-track training?

200 kt cruise at 32 gph and 1,650 lb useful load make the Baron 58 the canonical high-end ME trainer for corporate-pilot pipeline programmes that prioritise speed, cabin utility, and IFR cross-country capability over the lower fuel burn of a PA-44 Seminole or Tecnam P2006T. Many schools pair Baron 58s with Bonanza A36 / G36 single-engine fleets for the high-performance-single → high-performance-twin progression.

Is the Beechcraft Baron still in production?

Yes. Textron Aviation continues to build new Baron G58 airframes at the Beechcraft factory in Wichita, Kansas alongside the Bonanza G36. The G58 ships with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics as standard.

How does the Baron 58 compare to the Diamond DA42?

The Baron 58 has roughly 4x the horsepower of a DA42 (600 vs 336 hp), 200 kt cruise vs 197 kt, and 32 gph fuel burn vs 13 gph — the Baron is the high-end fast-twin trainer, the DA42 is the modern fuel-efficient diesel ME trainer. Choice between them depends entirely on whether the school needs the Baron's cabin and speed for corporate-track training, or the DA42's economics and Jet-A infrastructure for integrated CPL programmes.

Beechcraft (Textron Aviation)

Baron 55 / 58 / 58P

Multi-engine pistonMulti-engine trainerPre-1980 classicin production

Power: 600 hp
Cruise: 200 kt
MTOW: 5,500 lb
Range: 1480 nm
Fuel: 100LL avgas

Reference data only — never for flight planning or operational use.

This entry is a fleet-research reference for flight school operators. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook), the manufacturer's latest service documents, and the relevant FAA / EASA TCDS for any operational decision — flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, regulatory compliance, or maintenance scheduling. Numbers shown here are POH-typical for the family's representative variant under standard conditions and are not a substitute for type- and airframe-specific data.

Editorial confidence: High confidenceLast reviewed 2026-05-05

3 primary sources cited (POH / TCDS / type-club). Spec data and regulatory positioning are well-attributed; narrative synthesis is editorial.

View 3 disclaimers specific to this entry

Performance data
Reference data only — never use this entry for flight planning, weight and balance, performance calculations, fuel loading, or any operational decision. Numbers shown are POH-typical for the family's representative variant and standard conditions. Real-world numbers vary by airframe age, weight, density altitude, engine condition, and configuration. Always consult the actual aircraft's POH and the manufacturer's latest service documents.
Cost data
Cost ranges are illustrative reference figures for fleet planning. Actual acquisition, rental, and operating costs vary substantially by region, airframe age, engine and avionics generation, and local market conditions. Numbers should be validated against current quotes from local brokers, schools, and maintenance providers before any commercial decision.
Operator list
Operator lists capture schools and programmes we know to fly the type at scale. Lists are not exhaustive, may include operators that have changed fleets since publication, and should be treated as starting points for verification rather than current customer lists.

🇺🇸Specs shown in Imperial.

Performance

Cruise speed (Vc)200 kt
Never-exceed speed (Vne)223 kt
Stall (landing config) (Vs0)73 kt
Climb rate1,700 fpm
Service ceiling20,688 ft
Range1,480 nm
Endurance6 h
Takeoff roll1,373 ft
Landing roll1,488 ft

Weights

MTOW5,500 lb
Empty weight3,850 lb
Useful load1,650 lb
Baggage capacity400 lb

Dimensions

Wingspan37.8 ft
Length29.8 ft
Height9.6 ft
Cabin width42 in

Powerplant

Engine 1Continental IO-550-C — 300 hp · 100LL · 16 gph
Engine 2Continental IO-550-C — 300 hp · 100LL · 16 gph
Total horsepower600 hp
Primary fuel100LL avgas
Unleaded pathG100UL eligible (STC available)

Cockpit & avionics

Cockpit typeglass
Autopilot commonly availableYes
Typical packages
- Garmin G1000 NXi— modern (current G58 production)
- Six-pack analog with KFC-200 / KFC-225— 1970s–1990s airframes as delivered
- Garmin G500 / G3X retrofits— common modern retrofit

Certification

RegulatoryFAR Part 23 (CAR 3 origin) · EASA CS-23
Certified rolesNormal category
IFRYes
Spin approvedNo
Aerobatic-categoryNo
TailwheelNo
Complex (FAR 61.31)Yes
High-performance (FAR 61.31)Yes

Why is the Baron 55 / 58 / 58P popular?

Structured popularity-driver evidence. Each axis below carries one factual statement; we don't grade, the facts speak.

Regulatory fit

Twin 300 hp Continental IO-550-C engines and retractable gear / constant-speed propellers place the type in both the FAR 61.31 complex and high-performance categories — both endorsements required to act as PIC.

Industry network effects

Standard high-end / corporate-track multi-engine training airframe; the Bonanza / Baron Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP) covers both the Baron 55 / 58 line and the Bonanza family, with insurance underwriters commonly requiring BPPP currency.

Operating economics

200 kt cruise at 32 gph total fuel burn gives the Baron 58 the highest specific-air-mile performance of the established US ME trainer fleet — schools running corporate-track or high-end training programmes accept the higher fuel cost for the speed and cabin utility.

Parts and MRO ecosystem

Continuous current Beechcraft production at Wichita means new airframes are factory-supported; American Bonanza Society and BeechTalk supply deep independent maintenance practice.

How flight schools track this aircraft in Aviatize

Schools running Baron 58 fleets typically configure each airframe in Aviatize with two Continental IO-550-C engines as separate child components for independent TBO tracking; gear-actuator and propeller cycles are tracked separately. Multi-engine, high-performance, and complex endorsement requirements are modelled as per-pilot validation rules; insurance-required BPPP currency is commonly tracked alongside.

schedulingtraining managementaircraft maintenancebillingcompliance

Sources

Provenance for the data on this entry. Primary sources are POH / TCDS / manufacturer pages; derived sources record where Aviatize editorial synthesis is layered on top.

Primary sourcePOH·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Textron Aviation (Beechcraft)
https://beechcraft.txtav.com/
Beechcraft Baron G58 product page.
Primary sourceFAA TCDS·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/A23CE
FAA TCDS A23CE covers Baron 58 variants.
Primary sourceType Club·Retrieved 2026-05-05
American Bonanza Society
https://www.bonanza.org/
American Bonanza Society — runs the Bonanza / Baron Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP).
Editorial synthesisAviatize-internal·Retrieved 2026-05-05
Aviatize editorial
Entry authored by Aviatize from accumulated industry knowledge cross-referenced against the primary sources cited above. Specific fleet figures, fleet wins, and recent production status changes are research-backlog candidates and should be verified against primary sources before flipping verified: true.

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beechcraft bonanza piper pa 44 seminole diamond da42 twin star tecnam p2006t