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The Complete Beginner’s Guide to DCS World
Welcome to the world of Digital Combat Simulator (DCS World), the ultimate flight combat simulation that brings the thrill of…
X Plane 12 Baron 58 Weight & Balance Guide.
Your Apocalypse Baron 58 Guide & Scenario:
Save your family with this Baron 58 Weight & Balance Guide. Next time there is an apocalypse you can save yourself in this fun scenario.
There is an impending apocalypse situation with an asteroid streaking towards the ocean southwest of Adelaide Australia. It’s expected to impact in the ocean approximately 1000 kilometers in just an hour’s time. You have your family with you in the car trying to escape with extremely limited time to get away and save our lives. Decisions have to be made otherwise we will perish with the roads likely to be full of other road users doing exactly the same thing as you. Trying to escape! You need an answer to survive! You need it NOW!
The Family
In the car you have yourself and your wife (weighing 190 lbs. and 140 Lbs.) then 2 Kids (weighing 50 lb and 70 Lb) plus a family guard dog. The dog weighs about 44 lbs. We are carrying 40 liters of drinking water and approx plus 30 kilos of food with 2 suitcases of clothes quickly packed that also weighing 40 kilos in total.
Escape Route
Speeding down the road that was as yet not hindered by traffic we made fair time considering everything that was going on. Passing the Parafield Airport (YPPF), you notice a familiar sight. It’s a Baron 58 twin engine aircraft parked in front of the hangars. You have flown the Baron 58 in X Plane 12 for ages and are quite familiar with the twin King.
This could be a bold decision never having flow a real Baron 58 but considering the current options being limited and roads are likely going to be blocked with cars any another option is extremely welcome!
Having spent countless hours flying the BARON 58 in X Plane 12 which is the most realistic GA simulator available Plus some real-world flying experience in light sport aircraft that you made a decision! You say to your trusting wife “I’m going to fly us to safety in that Baron 58 over there!”
It is really your only option to take your family to safety in that somewhat tired looking Baron 58. It’s unlikely we you survive if we don’t try something with the limited time available to you! It could be signing your death warrant of you don’t get EVERY ASPECT of the preflight correct!
There is always the possibility that you could even crash on takeoff if everything isn’t absolutely perfect.
The Airport
There is no-one around Parafield Airport YPPF as you entered the road towards the hangar where the Baron is parked. It’s near one of the local flying schools you have visited previously when you thought of taking the plunge and flying career for real but that was now a distant memory.
An old WWII fighter that was being rebuilt but looked not to be airworthy was parked nearby at an adjoining hangar. Even if it was flyable it wasn’t going to get the family to safety, so a glance was all it got.
Adelaide The City that Always Sleeps.
Your fully aware that Adelaide is situated on the western side of the Adelaide Hills of about 2500 Ft that runs essentially North to South. It’s quite feasible that it could protect the eastern side of the range from considerable damage. Its height could block the initial explosive force of the expected Tsunami allowing those to the east a safer passage through the impending disaster.
The thought of getting to past Renmark normally an hour and a half by car or even Mildura which is near 4 hours away also by car seemed a great plan. Mildura was in the next state of Victoria right on the border. It would put some very much needed distance between you and the impending disaster expected to hit in approximately an hour from now by all reports.
Baron 58 Time
Exiting your car, you walk through the carpark of the flying school briskly past the abandoned flying school offices. The doors to the flying school were left open as if they all left in a hurry. Did they have the same idea and have taken all the remaining aircraft and flown eastward? We would know unless we meet them at a distant airport.
The wind which was picking up & blew one of the office doors open a little before returning to its closed position again. You do fast but comprehensive walk around of the Baron 58 seeing your wife looking more and more agitated waiting in the car. Her face is pressed against the car window showing signs of being extremely stressed. You had better get them in with your gear and leave ASAP.
Successfully completing the checklist you found conveniently poked in the door pocket of the Barron. It was well worn with the pages showing signs of considerable use. The page corners are worn and bent over. These turned out to be more critical pages so you keep a note so you can find information quickly if needed.
Checking the critical fuel levels there is about half a tank of fuel on each side which you expect to be enough. The engine oils are good with the right engine a little lower than the left on inspection. Ready you tick off the PREFILGHT CHECKLIST!
Preflight – You Haven’t Got Much Time! Hurry!
Baron 58 Manual Weight & Balance Checklist.
[ ] 1. Confirm Aircraft Empty Weight and CG (found in POH or placard)
[ ] 2. Record all occupant weights (front & rear seats, dog included)
[ ] 3. Add supplies (food, water, baggage)
[ ] 4. Confirm fuel level (gallons x 6 lbs = total fuel weight)
[ ] 5. Sum all weights – ensure it’s under 5,400 lbs (MTOW)
[ ] 6. Use standard arms:
– Front Seats: 85″
– Rear Seats: 121″
– Baggage: 140″
– Fuel: 95″
[ ] 7. Multiply weight × arm = moment for each station
[ ] 8. Add all moments and divide by total weight to get CG
[ ] 9. Confirm CG is between 79.5″ and 86.0″ (safe range)
[ ] 10. Adjust load if CG or weight is out of limits
[ ] 11. Confirm takeoff performance (distance, flaps, power)
Overall presentation of the aircraft showing it’s been looked after. You remove all the covers and then it hits you that you have flown this aircraft in X PLANE 12 for countless hours but don’t know I know how to do a weight and balance.
If the weight is to far forward the aircraft will nose over and you will suffer a be it quick but fiery death with your family! If the weight is to far aft or rearward you will nose up uncontrollably till you stall and fall like a rock to the same result. Neither is desirable!
Your C of G must be correct or disaster will follow!
Help is at Hand!
Then you remember there was a post on a website you saw just recently that explained how to do it and even had a Weight & Balance calculator already there.
OK, you grab your phone and search for LetsFlyVFR.com and check the blogs for Weight & Balance! It comes up immediately and you punch in the numbers to confirm your centre of Gravity. Its a real life saver but you note as well in the notes
(Not for Real World USE) – You hope it’s OK! Your lives depend on it!
How to Weight & Balance.
Step 1: Understand the Aircraft’s W&B Limits
Basic Baron 58 Specs (approximate, may vary by year/config):
- Max Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 5,400 lbs
- Empty Weight: ~3,700 lbs (varies slightly, but this is a good average)
- Useful Load: ~1,700 lbs (total for people, fuel, baggage, etc.)
- CG Range (Center of Gravity): 79.5″ to 86.0” aft of the datum
- Datum Reference Point: The nose of the aircraft (for CG calculations)
Step 2: Add Up Your Load
People – Weight is Important:
- Pilot (You): 190 lbs – (Note to self – GO to the GLYM)
- Adult: 140 lbs – (Note to self – Take wife to GYM)
- Child 1: 50 lbs – OK
- Child 2: 70 lbs – OK
- Dog: 44 lbs – (Note to self – Get Smaller dog next time!)
Subtotal (people): 494 lbs
Water – Crucial for Survival:
- 40 liters = ~40 kg = 88 lbs
Food – Crucial for Survival:
- 30 kg = 66 lbs
Clothes Crucial For Survival:
- 40 kg = 88 lbs
Subtotal (cargo): 88 + 66 + 88 = 242 lbs
Step 3: Estimate Fuel Weight
- Let’s say the Baron 58 is about half-full:
- Full fuel = 136 gallons usable (2 x 68 gal)
- 100LL AVGAS weighs 6 lbs/gal
- So half tank = 68 gal → 68 × 6 = 408 lbs
Step 4: Add it All Together – Are You Ready?
| Component | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|
| Empty Aircraft | 3,700 |
| People + Dog | 494 |
| Water, Food, Bags | 242 |
| Fuel (68 gal) | 408 |
| Total | 4,844 lbs |
Well under MTOW of 5,400 lbs. OK!
You have 556 lbs spare if needed. Good to KNOW!
Step 5: Balance (CG Calculation)
You now check if the weight is evenly distributed and within CG limits.
We use the formula:
Moment = Weight × Arm (distance from datum)
CG = Total Moment ÷ Total Weight
Let’s estimate arms:
| Station | Arm (inches) | Weight (lbs) | Moment (in-lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Empty | 78.4 | 3,700 | 289,080 |
| Front Seats | 85 | 330 | 28,050 |
| Rear Seats | 121 | 164 | 19,844 |
| Baggage Area | 140 | 242 | 33,880 |
| Fuel | 95 | 408 | 38,760 |
| Totals | — | 4,844 | 409,614 |
CG = 409,614 ÷ 4,844 = ~84.5 inches
This is within the CG range (79.5–86.0″)
So you’re balanced AND under MTOW.
Baron 58 Weight & Balance Calculator
Flight Sim Use ONLY – Enter Your Weights
Verdict: YOU CAN SAFELY FLY
- ✔️ Total Weight: ✅ Under 5,400 lbs
- ✔️ CG Location: ✅ Within limits
- ✔️ Distribution: ✅ Reasonable for takeoff
- ✔️ Performance: You’ll want at least 3,000 ft of runway and no big obstacles ahead — prefer early morning or cool air.
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Bonus Tips from X-Plane to Real Life:
- Set mixture, props, and throttle as you would in X-Plane.
- Do a run-up to ensure both engines respond normally.
- Use flaps 15° for a short-field takeoff if needed.
- Rotate at around 80–85 knots, climb out at 100–110 KIAS.
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🧠 In Apocalypse Survival Terms:
- You did exactly what a real-world pilot should do: know your limits, calculate manually, and make safe decisions.
- That X-Plane time just might save your family’s life.
Fly safe, Captain.
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
Learn More @
DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
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