Beech Upgrades The Baron

Raytheon Aircraft Company announced Thursday the FAA has granted type certification to the Beechcraft Baron G58, which features Garmin’s G1000 integrated avionics system as standard equipment. The dual-display system integrates Garmin's innovative GFC 700 autopilot and GWX68 color weather radar to provide improved situational awareness, increased functionality, and reduced pilot workload.

"Truly the most refined piston-twin ever built, the Beechcraft Baron continues to represent the pinnacle of high performance piston-twin aircraft," said Beechcraft President Randy Groom. "Now, coupled with the fully integrated G1000 avionics system, there just isn’t any other aircraft in this class that provides such a combination of performance, comfort and integrated avionics. I’ve flown the G58 myself several times and it is a delight to fly."

Certification comes sixteen months after the Garmin avionics upgrade was announced at Oshkosh in August 2004, according to Raytheon, and seven months after Beechcraft announced the change in the aircraft's designation to reflect on the inclusion of the Garmin system. The G58's sister aircraft, the Beechcraft Bonanza G36, was certified last month.

Formerly known as the Baron 58, the newly-designated Beechcraft Baron G58 also features new paint and logo designs, in addition to the upgraded avionics suite.

Complete with the fully integrated Garmin autopilot GFC 700 system and GWX68 weather radar, the G1000 also features the following as standard system components for the Baron G58 (panel shown below is from the G36):

• The primary flight display (PFD) replaces the traditional cockpit instruments and presents additional situational information on a large 10" LCD format.
• The multi-function display (MFD) combines engine instruments, terrain, navigation and integrated autopilot controls on a second 10" LCD.
• "State of the Art" solid-state Attitude and Heading Reference System, which can align while in motion, including in-flight dynamic restarts.
• Integrated digital air-data computer.
• Integrated GWX68 color weather radar
• GFC 700, a revolutionary fully integrated three-axis automatic flight control system and flight director.
• Integrated Mode S transponder with (TIS) Traffic Information Service
• Dual integrated radio units provide WAAS-capable & IFR approved GPS; VHF navigation with ILS approaches; VHF communication with 16-watt transceivers and 8.33-kHz channel spacing.
• G1000 MFD provides increased situational awareness with display of Terrain and Obstacles via web-based databases.
• XM WX satellite weather datalink receiving weather data via monthly subscriber Aviator services.
• Integrated XM digital audio system with more than 120 channels of digital commercial-free music, premier sports, news and talk radio.

Available options integrated into the G1000 system include:

• L3 Skywatch® 497 Traffic Advisory System displayed on the MFD.
• L3 Stormscope® Lightning Detection display on the MFD.
• Honeywell KN63 Distance Measuring Equipment selectively coupled with NAV 1 or NAV2.

Raytheon states more than 7,000 Baron 58s have been built to date. The G58 is powered by twin 300 hp Teledyne Continental I0550-C, six cylinder, fuel-injected engines. With a top speed of 202 knots (222 mph), the G58 also features a maximum range of more than 1,000 nm and seating for up to six. 

FMI: www.raytheonaircraft.com