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.