Page 22 - Volume 11 Number 8
P. 22

Baron - The Businessman’s Beechcraft PartOne
The Model 95-55 was aimed directly at the CEO who wanted fast, economical transportation at an affordable price
by Edward H. Phillips
“Outstanding single event of the 1961 meeting was the introduction of the new Beechcraft Model 55 Baron, a fast, sleek, four- to five-seat
twin-engine plane designed for the businessman-pilot. Ruggedly strong, yet extremely trim in appearance with swept tail and compact, flat-decked engine nacelles, the Baron offered a useful load of 1,920 pounds and a top speed of 236 mph.”1
That glowing declaration about the new Model 95- 55 excited salesmen attending the 1961 Beechcraft International Distributor-Dealer Sales Meeting held in November 1960. Although the Baron was the center of attention during the event, senior Beech Aircraft Corporation officials proudly declared that the 1960 fiscal year had ended with total sales of $98.8-million – a 10.4 percent increase over the previous year. In addition, the company’s worldwide sales force had responded well to the rallying cry of “60 Million in ’60” by selling $62.2-million worth of new Beechcraft airplanes.
As for the Baron, it was designed specifically to fill a critical gap in the product line between the smaller Model 95 Travel Air and the larger, quasi-cabin class Model 50 Twin Bonanza. In addition, Beech Aircraft needed to respond to improved versions of the Cessna Model 310D and 310F and Piper Aircraft’s versatile PA-23-235 Apache as well as the PA-23-250 Aztec. Although Piper customers liked the Apache, they clamored for more power, speed, range and cabin comfort. Based on customer feedback accumulated since the PA-23-150’s introduction in 1954, Piper Aircraft management realized that the Apache had matured to a point where a major upgrade was not only feasible, but essential.
As for Cessna, its leader, Dwane L. Wallace, had no intention of allowing Piper’s new Aztec to upstage the
The Model 95-55 Baron design was largely based on the Model 95 Travel Air airframe but with major structural upgrades to handle the more powerful Continental engines and higher airspeeds.


































































































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