Beechcraft G58 vs. Diamond DA62
August 31, 2016 General Aviation New Article by Ben Sclair
I earned my multi-engine rating in a 1973 Beechcraft Baron E55 and flew a few hundred hours in it. For that reason, if I see a Baron G58 on a ramp – or at a fly-in – I have to go look.
Admittedly, I have a soft spot for that particular line of twins. The room, comfort and look all appeal to me. That’s what makes having so many options in general aviation so cool. It is hard to find an aircraft that doesn’t fit your personal preference.
And when I look at Diamond’s DA62, I’m more than intrigued. I’ve yet had the opportunity to go for a flight, but much about the design is appealing. The 1,004-pound full fuel payload and the 9 gph max endurance cruise fuel burn cause me to tilt my held like a curious puppy. One of the G58’s IO-550-Bs using lean-of-peak procedures will get close to 9 gph, but you still have to feed the other -550.
Oh, and Jet-A – which is what you’ll fill the DA62 with – is cheaper most everywhere you’ll fly.
| AIRCRAFT | BEECHCRAFT BARON G58 | DIAMOND DA62 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 29 ft 10 in | 30 ft 1 in |
| Height | 9 ft 9 in | 9 ft 3 in |
| Wingspan | 37 ft 10 in | 47 ft 10 in |
| CABIN | ||
| Height | 50 in | – |
| Width | 42 in | – |
| Max Occupancy | 6 | 7 |
| WEIGHT | ||
| Max Takeoff Weight | 5,550 lbs | 5,071 lbs |
| Empty Weight | 4,030 lbs | 3,461 lbs |
| Useful Load | 1,494 lbs | 1,609 lbs |
| Usable Fuel | 194 gal | 89 gal |
| Full Fuel Payload | 330 lbs | 1,004 lbs |
| PERFORMANCE | ||
| Max Cruise Speed | 202 ktas | 192 ktas |
| Stall Speed | 73 kcas | 64 kias (full flaps) |
| Max Range | 1,480 nm | 1,245 nm |
| POWERPLANT | ||
| Engine | Cont. TSIO-550-C (2) | Austro AE330 (2) |
| Horsepower | 300 (2) | 180 (2) |
| PRICE | $1,200,000 | $1,100,000 |
If you’re in the market for a twin… which intrigues you more?