To address the question about additional baggage space in a 58 I have two answers. First, in addition to nose baggage (quite roomy) with the club seating there is a decent amount of space between the front seats and the next set of (rear facing seats). This area is right at the wing spar and just about at the center of the CG. Also there is lots of space behind the last row of seats-good for hanging bags-watch the aft CG issues there. My second answer is that I once took a full load of six people and luggage for a weekend in Maine in a 58 Baron. The airplane was stuffed as full as you could possibly get it. The pax had rented a mid sized SUV to get us all to our final destination (Harriseeket Inn in Freeport). After several attempts at loading, they had to go back to the rental agency and get a bigger vehicle.
Virtually all the Beech aircraft are excellent airplanes. I have quite a bit of time in Bonanzas, Barons, and King Airs and currently own a 55 Baron. It's not the most practical 6 seater, so I usually remove the fifth and sixth seats to make for a gigantic aft baggage area. We have a full size Doberman and a big dog bed will fit easily in with the 5/6 seats removed. I have enough useful load to carry four adults, 100 pounds of luggage (50 in the nose, 50 in the aft), and full (which is a little over five hours) fuel. If I leave the auxiliary tanks empty, I still have three and a half hours of fuel but pick up almost 375 pounds more payload. 185 knots is a fairly typical cruise speed on about 25 gallons an hour. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bit of an oldie resurrected. What I remember of 55s, loved to wag their tails in any sort of turbulence - V tail genes maybe, so good idea to avoid pax who had been on the turps the previous night. 58 seemed better there. Noisy buggers both, although there are worse out there.
I have owned my 1967 C-55 for 25 years and love it. I agree with all of the number stated above, great airplane, fast, handles well, and just a delight to fly. I fly lean of peak and get 180-185 knots on 22-24 GPH. It will go 200 knots cruise if you want to burn 30-33 GPH. I carry 142 (136) gallons of gas, 5:20 no reserve, and have 1950 pound useful load. No problem to carry 6 people and full fuel as long as you put the light ones in the rear. I love the plane.
I looked at 421s and even had a strong flirtation with a few Dukes. But for what we do, 400nm or so trips to MYNN and KEYW, there is nothing that beats a C/D/E Baron. I bank on 32gph. Tell me what your lean of peak procedure is---I have not advanced engine monitoring systems and no gamis. I can tell you that our engines simply do not sound or feel right unless they are slurping 14 gph a side.
the Aerostar is an interesting alternative. The club seating works better. The Lycoming 540s offer plenty of grunt and respectable speed. while not being a fuel hog. The Baron is a good and forgiving platform, while the Aerostar is good as well, but it is not as forgiving as the Baron is on a pilot that is not at the top of their proficiency.
I've owned both an Aerostar and a C-55 at different times. For me, pressurization is essential, so that rules out the C-55 any more. If I lived somewhere flat, like Florida, I might consider it. I think the C-55 flew a bit nicer, but other than that, the Aerostar had many advantages. Faster, slightly better range, nicer cabin (I always flew with a seat out in the Aerostar, but then I never carried the fifth seat in the C-55 either). The Aerostar was more challenging to fly, but that was a function of the turbochargers, slick airframe, and high altitude operation.
Under 15k, what's your cruise speed in the aerostar? I was under the impression that you don't get 200kts out of one unless your getting up into to flight levels. Love the aerostar look, but that tube like interior and seating arrangement would not be approved by my crew I don't think.
I don't know-- I rarely flew it below FL190. As I recall, up there I would get around 235 true. But, that's the point of the Aerostar-- to go up high.
the Aerostar actually is more agreeable to most as the interior headroom and seat height is constant for the length of the cabin... there is no feeling that one squeezing into jump seats if the 3rd row of seats is used, in addition to an easy step into the cabin and seat
In an Aerostar, the rear-most seats are actually the most pleasant ones. In a 55 Baron, not so much. I would agree that the Aerostar cabin is preferable to the 55 Baron, and I would say to the 58 Baron.
