1967 BEECH C55 BARON, UPGRADED AND MODIFIED AT THE FACTORY AS A TESTBED, 5994TT,390 1248 IO 520’S.



Item specifics
Condition: Used
1967 BEECH C55 BARON, UPGRADED AND MODIFIED AT THE FACTORY AS A TESTBED, 5994TT,390/1248 IO-520’S, BELLY DAMAGE. CHEAP.HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW A MAJOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIKE BEECHCRAFT FOR INSTANCE, TESTS THEIR IDEAS FOR A NEW MODEL?OFTEN, IT IS BY MODIFYING AN EXISTING MODEL.THIS AIRCRAFT WAS PRODUCED AS A C-55 BARON, SERIAL NUMBER TE-354, IN 1967.THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT SOLD, BUT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, WHERE THEY STARTED TO MODIFY THE AIRPLANE WITH THE HOPE OF MAKING A LARGER BARON, WHICH THEY DID, STARTING IN 1970, THE 58 SERIES.THIS PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED WITH 94 SEPARATE UPGRADES, INCLUDING MANY ITEMS TAKEN FROM THE LIMITED PRODUCTION 56TC AIRPLANE, INCLUDING THE FUEL SYSTEM (MORE ON THAT LATER) AND THE NOSEGEAR.AFTER BEECHCRAFT WAS THROUGH USING IT TO CERTIFY THE 58 SERIES, IN THE EARLY 1970’S, THEY ALLOWED IT TO BE PURCHASED, WITHOUT PAPERWORK BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO OWNED AN ENGINEERING COMPANY, WHO WAS WELL CONNECTED AT BEECHCRAFT.IN ASSOSCIATION WITH UNITED BEECHCRAFT IN WICHITA, THE FACTORY’S “CAPTIVE” DEALERSHIP, THIS GENTLEMAN’S FIRM WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN AN AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE FOR THIS AIRPLANE IN 1974. THE AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE READS 95-C55-BASTHE PILOTS OPERATING HANDBOOK SHOWS THIS AIRPLANE AS 1 OF 1, A TOTALLY UNIQUE, FACTORY MODIFIED AIRPLANE !!SOME OF THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS AIRPLANE ARE JUST PARTS FROM THE 56TC BEING INSTALLED ON THE SMALLER ENGINED C55, LIKE THE HEAVY DUTY NOSEGEAR ASSEMBLY (WHICH BASICALLY WAS ADOPTED FOR THE 58.)OTHERS LIKE THE HORIZONTAL STABILATOR AND ELEVATORS, WERE FROM THE D AND E55 AIRPLANES, AND THEY WERE ADOPTED AS-IS INTO THE 58.NOTICE THE SMOOTH RADOME, WITH THE LANDING LIGHT ON THE NOSEGEAR? THAT ISN’T LIKE THE C OR D, BUT THIS STYLE NOSE WAS ADOPTED BY THE 58.THE FUEL SYSTEM IS AS DESIGNED FOR THE 56TC, BUT WITHOUT THE AUX TANKS OF THE 56.THIS AIRCRAFT HOLDS 142 GALLONS, (MORE THAN THE STANDARD 133 OF THE “C” AND “D”), BUT THE UNIQUE THING IS THAT IT DOES IT WITH ONLY 2 TANKS, AND A SIMPLE LEFT/RIGHT/CROSSFEED SELECTOR, LIKE THE BARON LINE RECEIVED IN 1974, NOT THE COMPLICATED 4 TANK SYSTEM OF THE “C”, “D” OR EARLY “E” !!OK SO THIS AIRPLANE IS UNIQUE, BUT NOT WEIRD OR QUIRKY, JUST MOSTLY AHEAD OF IT’S TIME, AND SUPERIOR TO THE OTHER “C” MODEL BARONS IN MANY, MANY WAYS.THIS PARTICULAR AIRPLANE LOOKS GOOD, WITH NEWER PAINT IN A BLACK LOWER AND WINGS SCHEME, WITH RED ACCENT STRIPES.AS YOU WILL NOTICE, THE AIRPLANE IS FULLY DEICED, INCLUDING PROPS AND WINDSHIELD.TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME IS 5994.THE LEFT IO-520 ENGINE HAS 390 SMOH, WHILE THE RIGHT HAS 1248.AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTH 3 BLADE PROPS ARE BENT, AS THIS AIRPLANE LANDED WITHOUT THE LANDING GEAR DOWN.IT WASN’T PARTIALLY DOWN, THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION.THE OWNER/PILOT, A LONGTIME BARON PILOT, WAS DISTRACTED AND DID NOT USE THE STANDARD CHECKLIST, AND IT COST HIM ON THIS FLIGHT.IN ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE TO THE PROPS (AND THEREFORE THE INSPECTION REQUIREMENT ON THE ENGINES), THE AIRFRAME DAMAGE ITSELF IS NOT SEVERE.ONE OF THE MODS ON THIS SPECIAL C55 WERE THE EXTENDED CHORD FLAPS, WHICH WERE USED ON THE “D” AND EARLY “E” AS WELL AND SINCE THEY WERE DOWN, THEY HELPED TO KEEP THE BELLY OFF THE RUNWAY SOMEWHAT.THE FLAPS DID SACRIFICE THEMSELVES IN THIS MANNER, SO BOTH WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.THE STEP ALSO GAVE SOME ASSISTANCE, AS IT HAS A WORN AREA ON THE BOTTOM, BUT IN THIS CASE THERE WAS NO SACRIFICE, AS THE STEP ARM AND THE ATTACH POINT ON THE FUSELAGE BOTH LOOK GOOD AND APPEAR UNDAMAGED.AS A RESULT OF THE STEP ACTING LIKE A SKI, THE SCRAPING ON THE BELLY IS SLIGHTLY MORE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BELLY THAN THE RIGHT, STARTING AT THE AFT END OF THE NOSEGEAR DOOR WELL, AND PROCEEDING BACK ABOUT HALFWAY UNDER THE CABIN.THE RIGHT SIDE OF THESE SAME SKINS HAS NOTICABLY LESS SCRAPING, AND THERE IS NONE AROUND THE NOSE GEAR WELL ON THE RIGHT SIDE.AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS, THE LEFT GEAR DOOR IS SCRATCHED QUITE A BIT, WHILE THE RIGHT IS VERY BARELY TOUCHED. THE RIGHT PROBIBLY WILL NOT REQUIRE RESKINNING.THE ADF ANTENNA ALSO ACTED AS A SKI, SO THAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IF YOU WANT THAT SYSTEM TO OPERATE.AND HERE IS THE GREAT NEWS !!THAT IS ALL OF THE DAMAGE !!THERE IS NO WING DAMAGE AT ALL AS A RESULT OF THIS SIMPLE GEAR UP, NOT LEADING EDGE, OR TIP, OR BOOTS, OR SPARS. THERE IS NO TAIL DAMAGE AT ALL, NOT SURFACES, OR SKINS OR BOOTS.THE GEAR, WHICH WAS SAFELY TUCKED UP IN THE WELLS, DID NOT MALFUNCTION OR SUSTAIN ANY DAMAGE AT ALL.OF COURSE THE WHEELS AND BRAKES ARE THE CLEVELAND CONVERSION.THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE GEAR MOTOR OR TRANSMISSION, NOR TO THE ACTUATING ARMS.BOTH THE INBOARD AND OUTBOARD GEAR DOORS, ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAINS ARE UNSCRAPED AND UNDAMAGED.THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE NACELLES, OR COWLINGS, OR EVEN EXHAUST SYSTEMS ON EITHER SIDE!THE ENGINES HAVE NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE, ASIDE FROM THE PROP STRIKES.INSIDE, THIS AIRPLANE HAS A FULL 6 SEAT INTERIOR, IN VERY NICE GREY LEATHER !!THE REAR SEATS CONVIENIENTLY FOLD UP AND OUT OF THE WAY WITHOUT TOOLS, SO LEAVING THEM IN FOR WHEN YOU WANT THEM IS NOT A ROOM PENALTY LIKE IT IS ON SO MANY BARONS EQUIPPED WITH 6.AS YOU CAN SEE, THE REAR SEATS AND REAR BAGGAGE AREA CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE DOUBLE SIZED CARGO DOOR. THIS AIRPLANE HAS THE LATEST STYLE 3RD BACK WINDOW, FRAMELESS SIDE GLASS, AND THE 1 PIECE SPEED SLOPE WINDSHIELD FROM THE E-55.EQUIPPED WITH THE VERY GOOD AND RELIABLE CENTURY 3 AUTOPILOT (AN UPGRADE FROM THE ORIGINAL), WHICH PROVIDES WING LEVELING AND ALTITUDE HOLD, AS WELL AS VOR AND LOC/GPS COUPLING, AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TRIM, AND GLIDESLOPE COUPLING.ALL OF THE FLIGHT AND ENGINE INSTRUMENTATION IS 100% INTACT AND COMPLETE, INCLUDING THE AUTOPILOT GYROS.THE AVIONICS INCLUDED ARE A KING KX-155,WITH INDICATORKING KT-70 DIGITAL MODE “S” TRANSPONDER, AND BENDIX ADF SYSTEMTHIS SALE INCLUDES THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE, FAA BILL OF SALE, ALL LOGBOOKS (AIRFRAME, BOTH ENGINES AND BOTH PROPS) SINCE 1989, AND 337’S AND EXTRA PAPERWORK BACK TO THE CERTIFICATION IN 1974, PLUS THE POH, CHECKLIST (RECOMMENDED), ETC., ETC., ETC.LAST ANNUAL WAS IN 2017, SO THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED GEAR UP WHILE IN ANNUAL, BUT THAT ANNUAL IS EXPIRED NOW.LOCATED AT THE LITTLE AIRPORT OF ALBERT LEA, MN., JUST ABOUT TO THE IOWA BORDER.WE WILL PAY FOR THE HANGER STORAGE FOR 30 DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION, AND YOU ARE FREE TO ARRANGE ANY ADDITIONAL TIME YOU MIGHT NEED.THIS IS A LOT OF VERY FAST AIRPLANE, AND IT IS BEING SOLD HERE COMPLETE WITH IT’S IO-520 ENGINES, THE MOSTLY UNDAMAGED AIRFRAME, INSTRUMENTS AND RADIOS AS SHOWN.200 KNOTS CRUISE SPEED FOR PEANUTS !!BUY IT NOW!!!!
AS WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT IS LOCATED IN CRYSTAL,MINNESOTA, NOT…….....ALBERT LEA, MN........ ..…….. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PERSONALLY ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OR MOVING OF THIS AIRPLANE SORRY.
WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT DOES NOT OBTAIN REPAIR ESTIMATES, AS WE DO NOT REPAIR ANY OF OUR AIRPLANES. WE ONLY FACILITATE THE SALE OF REBUILDABLE AIRCRAFT TO THOSE DESIRING TO SAVE MONEY OR HAVE MORE AIRPLANE THAN OTHERWISE POSSIBLE FOR THE MONEY.
REPAIR OF ANY AIRCRAFT WILL DEPEND ON MANY FACTORS, SUCH AS AVAILABILITY OF USED PARTS, LABOR RATE OF THE REPAIR FACILITY, FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT, ETC. AND WE WOULD NEVER PRESUME TO ESTIMATE THIS NUMBER FOR A BUYER. BEWARE OF THOSE WHO OBVIOUSLY GIVE UNREALISTICALLY LOW "ESTIMATES" FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT THEY SELL.
THIS ITEM IS BEING SOLD WITH A LOW RESERVE, THEREFORE WE FULLY EXPECT THIS LISTING WILL SELL TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AT THE CLOSE OF THIS AUCTION, SO BID EARLY AND BID HIGH. THERE WILL BE NO CHANCE TO BUY THIS ITEM LATER!!
AS WE SET OUR BUY-IT-NOW SO LOW, MANY OF OUR AIRPLANES SELL BY THIS METHOD BEFORE THE END OF THE AUCTION. DONT WAIT TOO LONG HOPING TO SNIPE IT AT THE END, AND BE DISAPPOINTED !
WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT INC IS THE #1 VOLUME SELLER IN THE USED AIRCRAFT MARKET!
WE ARE THE REAL BRICK AND MORTAR WENTWORTH AIRCRAFT YOU HAVE SEEN ADVERTISED ON PAGE 6 OF TRADE-A-PLANE, AT OUR BOOTHS AT OSHKOSH, SUN-AND-FUN, AOPA, AND ELSEWHERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS !!!!
WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, SO WHEN YOU BUY AN ITEM THROUGH EBAY FROM US, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT WE WILL LIST ALL ITEMS AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT WE WILL ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS TRUTHFULLY.
PLEASE ASK ALL QUESTIONS THROUGH THE LISTING(ASK SELLER A QUESTION), BECAUSE THESE QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.
PLEASE DON"T ASSUME. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT ANY FACET OF ONE OF OUR LISTINGS, PLEASE ASK !
SO THAT ALL BIDDERS HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION,WE PREFER NOT TO ANSWER DETAIL QUESTIONS BY PHONE. OUR PHONE SALES STAFF HAS NO DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OF THE ITEMS ON EBAY.
DUE TO THE AUCTION FORMAT, IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR FOR THE HIGH BIDDER NOT TO BUY THE ITEM LISTED, SO TREAT YOUR BID LIKE A HANDSHAKE!!
YOUR BID IS NOT A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, BUT RATHER A CONTRACT TO BUY OUR AIRPLANE AT YOUR BID PRICE
SO BE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION, AND FUNDSIN PLACE.
A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF $2,000 IS DUE WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE BID CLOSING. WE PREFER PAYPAL FOR THIS DEPOSIT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PAYPAL, LET US KNOW, AND WE WILL HELP YOU FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.
THE BALANCE OF THE PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF BID CLOSE. THESE FUNDS CAN BE BY WIRE TRANSFER, BANK OR CASHIERS CHECK, CASH, OR ANY COMBINATION. FULL PAYMENT IS DUE BY TIME STATED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE VIEWED THE AIRCRAFT. BID ACCORDINGLY.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS LISTING, AND BE SURE TO CLICK "SEE SELLERS OTHER AUCTIONS" OR SEARCH WENTWORTHAIRCRAFTINC IN SELLERS,FOR MORE ITEMS YOU NEED OR WANT!
Add a map to your own listings. FREE Trial !
Current date: 2018-08-15