I owned a B55 and then a B58 and then a King Air C90. The B55 was the nicest handling airplane of any I have ever flown single or twin. The B55 has short takeoff ability unlike the B58 too. I have never flown the B55 with 300hp ... it must be nice.
I'm not in the position to be buying an aircraft, but if I was, the B55 fits the bill for me. Furthermore, the Colemill conversion, now owned by Mike Jones Aircraft, is still available, and taking the B55 to IO-550E's sounds like a really good way to get along. I saw one of your other videos where with only you in the airplane, you were looking at 2,500FPM up to 6,000', at 135 knots. Pretty substantial. This video is two and a half years old, and I wonder if you still own this airplane. It certainly looks like a keeper. At Oshkosh this year, Dynon Avionics announced that they are certifying the Dynon Skyview system. For a B55, I would install a Skyview HDX 10" screen as my primary display, a Skyview HDX 7" as my engine monitoring device and full backup for the 10", and a Dynon D10A as a backup. In this system, Dynon also has a full 2020 ADS-B In/Out solution, integrated auto pilot, maps, charts, and VFR GPS, among other things. It also integrates with both Garmin and Avidyne navigators. Another gentleman on UA-cam, Baron Pilot, who also flies a B55, has the Avidyne IFD 440 and using a 9" iPad Air, runs Avidyne's IFD100 application, which communicates with the IFD440 viat WiFi. At allows you to do almost everything on the iPad instead of reaching over to the radio stack, on a much larger screen. This includes flight planning, editing your flight plan, radio frequency input, charts, traffic, etc. I am somewhat, in a good way, jealous of you. Love your airplane, wish I was still flying. Enjoy your trips, safe journeys to you, and winds at your tail. Fly safe.
I made some in-flight videos as well. The difference in the E55 and the original B55 are the engines, nose, and tail. The E55 has a bigger nose, bigger tail, and IO-520 engines, whereas the B55 had IO-470s. This B55 has the IO-550s which make 300+ HP. Watch the takeoff video I did of the B55. It has an amazing climb profile.
Great Video. Answers a lot a questions a pilot or prospective purchaser would like to know, from someone that has no conflict of interest. I had an old F-35 and loved it (except for the E series engine and electric prop).. Now hoping to get something with a big 'B' on it again. Why do you like the lake '60's V-tails versus something in the late '70's? Thanks in advance
From what I have found the 67-69 years were the sweet spot in GA for build quality and concentration of keeping the empty weight down. In the 70s the same airplane model gained weight and the construction was not as straight. Still great, planes, but not the same as the late 60s. Beech builds a good plane.
Fantastic presentation. Very interesting, what technique do you use during descent to prevent shock cooling? Also what is the difference between the E55 and the B55? Thanks again for your videos. I appreciate the time and info.
Alex you may be no longer following this video but let me answer your question. Shock cooling is a myth - it is heat that damages engines, for example going from idle to full throttle when the engine hasn't been warmed up or doing a long descent at idle and then going full noise - but shock cooling never. Just think about it for a moment - inside an engine at idle there are still explosive combustions going on in a very confined space that will heat the engine. OK - still not convinced then there is a heap of literature on the internet that deals with the issue - look for articles written by John Deakin - you will learn heaps.
I watch some of the video to get performance numbers but gave up. You told us ten times in the first five minutes the paint was great and we can see this. I wanted to know if you can file 195 knots true with these? What is your fuel flow at this speed and are you lean of peak? The answer to the gentleman's question below about turbos. Obviously the P Baron 58's are turbo charged. They made a 390 horse, (Duke powered B-56 and it flew very fast. Sometimes you'll see them on the for sale web sights.)
It is a 190 knot plane on 23 GPH LOP or 200 knots on 29 GPH ROP. The 56 Baron has Duke engines and really is inefficient and costly burning 38 GPH producing maybe 235 knots. Very expensive engines to rebuild as well. Better off owning a Duke with pressurization and more comfortable cabin if you have those engines to feed fuel and maintain. The 55 Baron with the president II conversion is the nicest flying light twin available. Continental engines are not my favorite due to the horrible starter adapter design and terrible valve installation from the factory, but the IO550s in the P2 make it a great flying plane.
Thank you once again for your presentation. Excellent, and you plane is very impressive!
Great video! I couldn't decide between a 58 and 55 but now I am definitly going with the 55.
Very good paintwork and window tinting to help stop the UV rays from heating up the interior
Absolutely gorgeous airplane! Great video.....thanks for making it. Now you need some inflight videos with this machine.
Nice plane
I owned a B55 and then a B58 and then a King Air C90. The B55 was the nicest handling airplane of any I have ever flown single or twin. The B55 has short takeoff ability unlike the B58 too. I have never flown the B55 with 300hp ... it must be nice.
I'm not in the position to be buying an aircraft, but if I was, the B55 fits the bill for me. Furthermore, the Colemill conversion, now owned by Mike Jones Aircraft, is still available, and taking the B55 to IO-550E's sounds like a really good way to get along. I saw one of your other videos where with only you in the airplane, you were looking at 2,500FPM up to 6,000', at 135 knots. Pretty substantial.
This video is two and a half years old, and I wonder if you still own this airplane. It certainly looks like a keeper.
At Oshkosh this year, Dynon Avionics announced that they are certifying the Dynon Skyview system. For a B55, I would install a Skyview HDX 10" screen as my primary display, a Skyview HDX 7" as my engine monitoring device and full backup for the 10", and a Dynon D10A as a backup. In this system, Dynon also has a full 2020 ADS-B In/Out solution, integrated auto pilot, maps, charts, and VFR GPS, among other things. It also integrates with both Garmin and Avidyne navigators. Another gentleman on UA-cam, Baron Pilot, who also flies a B55, has the Avidyne IFD 440 and using a 9" iPad Air, runs Avidyne's IFD100 application, which communicates with the IFD440 viat WiFi. At allows you to do almost everything on the iPad instead of reaching over to the radio stack, on a much larger screen. This includes flight planning, editing your flight plan, radio frequency input, charts, traffic, etc.
I am somewhat, in a good way, jealous of you. Love your airplane, wish I was still flying. Enjoy your trips, safe journeys to you, and winds at your tail. Fly safe.
Very informative. Wondering what the cruise is at optimum altitude and mixture settings over the stock engines that were once on N286D. Thank you.
Beautiful. Hang onto it. Did you get rid of the Duke?
Did the ever make a turbocharged B55, most of the ones with turbo's Ive seen are 58's
If your in NC I'll tune your radios for you!
I made some in-flight videos as well. The difference in the E55 and the original B55 are the engines, nose, and tail. The E55 has a bigger nose, bigger tail, and IO-520 engines, whereas the B55 had IO-470s. This B55 has the IO-550s which make 300+ HP. Watch the takeoff video I did of the B55. It has an amazing climb profile.
Hi...can i call sometime next week, looking at getting a B58 or 58P, need some advice.
Great Video. Answers a lot a questions a pilot or prospective purchaser would like to know, from someone that has no conflict of interest. I had an old F-35 and loved it (except for the E series engine and electric prop).. Now hoping to get something with a big 'B' on it again. Why do you like the lake '60's V-tails versus something in the late '70's? Thanks in advance
From what I have found the 67-69 years were the sweet spot in GA for build quality and concentration of keeping the empty weight down. In the 70s the same airplane model gained weight and the construction was not as straight. Still great, planes, but not the same as the late 60s. Beech builds a good plane.
Fantastic presentation. Very interesting, what technique do you use during descent to prevent shock cooling? Also what is the difference between the E55 and the B55?
Thanks again for your videos. I appreciate the time and info.
Alex you may be no longer following this video but let me answer your question. Shock cooling is a myth - it is heat that damages engines, for example going from idle to full throttle when the engine hasn't been warmed up or doing a long descent at idle and then going full noise - but shock cooling never. Just think about it for a moment - inside an engine at idle there are still explosive combustions going on in a very confined space that will heat the engine. OK - still not convinced then there is a heap of literature on the internet that deals with the issue - look for articles written by John Deakin - you will learn heaps.
Oh - the difference between the E55 and the B55 is the engines. The E55 has the IO-520 fitted along with some other airframe modifications.
@Michael Robinson Absolutely it is a myth. And what do you think the words "airframe modifications" signify?
I watch some of the video to get performance numbers but gave up. You told us ten times in the first five minutes the paint was great and we can see this. I wanted to know if you can file 195 knots true with these? What is your fuel flow at this speed and are you lean of peak? The answer to the gentleman's question below about turbos. Obviously the P Baron 58's are turbo charged. They made a 390 horse, (Duke powered B-56 and it flew very fast. Sometimes you'll see them on the for sale web sights.)
It is a 190 knot plane on 23 GPH LOP or 200 knots on 29 GPH ROP. The 56 Baron has Duke engines and really is inefficient and costly burning 38 GPH producing maybe 235 knots. Very expensive engines to rebuild as well. Better off owning a Duke with pressurization and more comfortable cabin if you have those engines to feed fuel and maintain.
The 55 Baron with the president II conversion is the nicest flying light twin available. Continental engines are not my favorite due to the horrible starter adapter design and terrible valve installation from the factory, but the IO550s in the P2 make it a great flying plane.