Baron 56TC Drivers?

Rick182

Rick182

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Rick
Are there any Baron 56TC drivers out there? I’d like to pick your brain for a few minutes.

Rick
 
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Friend of mine owns a bunch of them, happy to connect you two. PM me if you want.
 
I don't think I've seen anyone post on this board about owning one so I'm guessing results will be minimal.

It's an airplane I've always wanted to at least fly. I'm undecided on if it would be wise to own one or not.
 
mondtster said:
I don't think I've seen anyone post on this board about owning one so I'm guessing results will be minimal.

It's an airplane I've always wanted to at least fly. I'm undecided on if it would be wise to own one or not.
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That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! I really want to get into a G58 Baron but I have low time so I cannot get insurance. That means I need to buy an inexpensive twin and build some time for a year. 56TC seems like a fun way to do it!
 
Rick182 said:
That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! I really want to get into a G58 Baron but I have low time so I cannot get insurance. That means I need to buy an inexpensive twin and build some time for a year. 56TC seems like a fun way to do it!
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If you can't get insurance in a tame G58 Baron I really doubt you're going to be insured in a 56TC. Or were you thinking of going without insurance at all?
 
mondtster said:
If you can't get insurance in a tame G58 Baron I really doubt you're going to be insured in a 56TC. Or were you thinking of going without insurance at all?
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From what I can tell, the hull value on the G58 is the part that is giving me problems.
 
Rick182 said:
From what I can tell, the hull value on the G58 is the part that is giving me problems.
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I'm no insurance expert but my observation has been that hull value mainly drives the premium price, not whether you can get insurance or not. For example, I know two guys with Diamond DA40s, one has a hull value of $200k and the other has a hull value of $400k. The $200k airplane is $1100 to insure and the $400k one is $2200. I don't know what a $1m+ G58 would run for a premium but I'm sure it would be fairly steep. What's your experience background? How much multi time do you have?

I doubt there are many 56TCs left flying and what flying they do is probably minimal, so loss rate is likely pretty low on them. But they're a short body Baron with big motors so I assume it may be a handful with OEI. Due to this I'm going to guess the underwriters will decline but perhaps not if you throw enough money at them.

Working your way up to a G58 via an old 58 or 55 Baron would probably be an easier route to take.
 
Sometimes I wonder if you could get a discount on insurance if there was a clause they didn’t have to pay hull value if you died in the accident.

As long as there is no bank loan on it.... I could live with that money not going to my estate... :)
 
Rick182 said:
That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! I really want to get into a G58 Baron but I have low time so I cannot get insurance. That means I need to buy an inexpensive twin and build some time for a year. 56TC seems like a fun way to do it!
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The 56TC is a rare bird. A fellow pilot in our Flying Club has owned one for more than 30 years (his "other plane" is a Cessna 180, so he has good taste). He was trying to sell his well maintained 56TC Baron a year ago and I had a close and serious look at it.

Less than 100 56TCs were built. It's a rocket ship. It has a pair of 380 hp Lycoming engines on it that were produced in limited quantity; parts are available to repair or overhaul but more expensive than the higher volume Lyc engines. Things like exhaust components for the turbo set-up are extremely difficult To find as they were custom made for the 56TC only (some owners have been trying to adapt Duke exhaust parts apparently).

There's no such thing as an "inexpensive twin". But if there were, the 56TC wouldn't come close to ever being a candidate for that award. If you are looking for a comparatively low cost Baron stick with a B55 model.
 
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Time building in a 56TC doesn't look like it's going to have many parallels with a G58. Looking at the POH (I don't have time in a 56, you'll want to check my assumptions strongly) the 56TC just is an extra-thirsty E55 Baron up until about 10-12K altitude, then it starts building TAS while you climb on oxygen.

IMO any other NA beech twin would be a better choice. Particualrly as the heavy G58 is going to have half of the climb rate of the 56. You're almost setting yourself up for a dangerous training gap, moving from a plane that can power and horse your way out of a bad situation into one that may require more finesse and sharper technique.

Why not a training-class plane with LESS power and weight than the G58. Flying around in an anemic plane seems like a better prequel. Maybe a Travel Air or 470-powered 55?

I admire your taste in interim planes though. Man-points awarded for the chutzpah if you find one and bag it. :D
 
I got a chance to log some PIC hours in one some years ago. It was owned by a gentleman in the Twin Cities who passed away years ago, I don't know if his kids still have it or not.
I still remember the engines it had, TSIO-541's.
I'm sure it's NOT inexpensive.
 
I guess I should have said relatively inexpensive :p

I appreciate all of the data points. I thought the Travel Airs were too anemic when I reviewed a POH earlier this month. I’ll take a look at some 55 models.
 
Not a 56TC pilot, but the Dukes have the same engine. 45-50 gph fuel burn for the 380hp output, the Baron must be a rocketship to fly. But, support for the TSIO-541 engines is dwindling, you can't get a new one from Lycoming, though they do still make new cylinders. Parts get harder and harder to find, yes, you can still get what you need, but it seems like everything needed requires a "where's waldo" treasure hunt to discover parts sources. You can still get overhauls done, but only a handful of shops across the country do the -541. Cost for the overhaul, engine with engine accessories like turbo, fuel pump, etc., but not alternator, prop governor and so forth, is on the order of $65K per side. Still want to play?
As great as the 56TC may be to fly, it's just too rare, heading towards the museum/antique realm. Personally, if I needed turbocharging capability, I'd look at the 58 Barons. But, as others suggest, IMHO, the 55's, Travel Airs, or, even a Seneca, would be a much more viable choice for twin time-building.
 
I've flown with my buddy in his Turbo Baron. It's an absolute rocketship, but the fuel flows will bring tears to your eyes. On takeoff/climb, the 56TC burns around 100gph total; in cruise it burns around 50gph total. But up high, it's fast and will outrun a King Air 90 on a good day.
 
I owned a 56TC for six years what do you need to know, don't believe everything bad you hear about them,
 
Let me set a few things straight; Engines are TIO-541 Lycoming's, on take-off 41.5 in 2900 rpm 80 gph, very seldom did I use full power on take off, climb out is 60 gph, Climb out is fantastic ! Cruise? How high,how fast, how much fuel do you want to burn? Down low power back and you can do 30-35 gph and fly at normal Baron speed, up high with high cruise 40 gph, I set a speed record in the 56TC from LAX to PHX avg 340 mph at 25K ft burning 52 gph it was not full throttle! On landing be careful with only 2 on board the 56TC is very nose heavy as them engines stick way out there, I had ballast in the rear baggage and landed most of the time with just 15 deg approach flaps so it would flare better. Great engines just don't be a throttle jockeys, stage cool them on the way down, they have big cowl flaps, before shut down idle then for 4 mins. The 56TC has Duke landing gear as it was a test bed for the Duke with the new engines. The cost of parts in unreal, engine cost are way too high, would I own another ? Yes if I could afford the fuel and I always did owner assisted annuals and it was easy to work on. That is my 56TC in the profile pic.
 
Rick182 said:
That's exactly what I'm trying to figure out! I really want to get into a G58 Baron but I have low time so I cannot get insurance. That means I need to buy an inexpensive twin and build some time for a year. 56TC seems like a fun way to do it!
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Semi OT, but why a G58? Why not get an older 58 Baron and put in better avionics than the overgrown 430, aka G1000, along with getting a better UL? I'd rather fly behind a G600 TXi and GFC600 than a G1000. You'll likely save a fair bit of money too.

Rick182 said:
I guess I should have said relatively inexpensive :p

I appreciate all of the data points. I thought the Travel Airs were too anemic when I reviewed a POH earlier this month. I’ll take a look at some 55 models.
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The 55 is probably the way to go.
 
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