Beech 55 Baron
The Beechcraft Baron 55 paired the proven Bonanza fuselage with two engines instead of one, giving owner-pilots twin-engine redundancy without a completely new airframe to certify. Its relatively fast cruise speed for a piston twin made it popular with business owners flying themselves between smaller regional airports too small for airline service. Beechcraft kept the Baron in continuous, largely evolutionary production for decades, refining engines and avionics while keeping the basic airframe familiar to generations of pilots. It remains one of the most recognisable light piston twins still flying today.

Did you know?
The Baron 55 paired the proven Bonanza fuselage with two engines instead of one, adding redundancy without a new airframe to certify.
Specifications
| Length | 8.1 m (27 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 11.5 m (38 ft) |
| Height | 2.8 m (9 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 5 |
| Persons on board | 6 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 2.2 t |
| Range | 1,000 NM (1,852 km) |
| Maximum speed | 200 kt (370 km/h) |
| Stall speed | 73 kt (135 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 19,900 ft (6,066 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 17,000 ft (5,182 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,670 ft/min (8.5 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 511 m (1,677 ft) |
| Landing distance | 670 m (2,198 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 414 l |
| Engines | 2x Continental IO-470/520 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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