Sun 'n Fun 2023: Lock & Key Baron

Mike Jones Aircraft has enjoyed big success with the Lock & Key Navajo refurbishment program and is now expanding the concept to other models. It was showing off its latest Beech Baron B58 Lock & Key refurbishment at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, and Aviation Consumer Editor Larry Anglisano took a look at it with company founder Mike Jones.

[ToeTag]

Beautiful restoration. My one ding would be all of the Lock & Key logos outside and inside. Maybe just did that for the SnF show, but having it on the yokes, arm rest end caps, and elsewhere was just too much for me. Could be more subtle about it.

[MikeJonesAircraft]

Thank you for the opportunity to share what we do!

[benclammer]

It's awesome but the price is bumping up against a new one.

[alexmikhael]

wow nice!! commin lotto, or powerball!!! :) pappa wants a new old plane!

[flitetym]

Is the L & K better than a G-58 production line roll-off? The net cost seems to be about equal.

[ReflectedMiles]

Did they refurb the ease of Vmc rollover / lack of tail authority?

[MrPopples]

1.1 is a hell of a lot less than 2 million for a brand new baron that’s no better.

[DanFrederiksen]

I'm low key high key lock and key a believer in building new rather than spend 1.1million for a 1960 plane with similar mileage to a modern light twin jet going twice as fast
We badly need a bonanza/baron replacement that's pressurized, 300kg empty and has twin jet engines. The contrast would be staggering.

[antonyh]

I wonder what thus restoration would look like on a cessna 150 or 172

[jameshuggins]

that is an insane amount of money. let someone else do it, then buy one in a few years after it's depreciated a bit.

[RumblestripDotNet]

If you can afford almost $1mil for this redone B58, you can probably afford a new DA62.

[DragonBuildsRC]

Love what they do but yet another rich man thing in GA. Updating old GA aircraft is a great thing just comes with price tag of Diamond twin

[heartscards]

Could you lock and key the Diamond DA62?

[crooked-halo]

Great idea, but I'm just bothered by the wrinkled skin on the nose of this particular Baron. I'm a career structures & sheet metal guy, so I know perfection is very difficult in this area, but it just bothers me for what I think this restoration costs. I may elect to have skin like that replaced, but I'm a bit OCD when it comes to airplanes I fly and especially one that I would put this kind of money into.

[MattMorris]

If you got that kind of money you can buy a 2018 with the G1000 nxi for $1, 395, 000.

[bernardanderson]

I’d rather have the Lock and Key Piper Navajo Panther

[MrJvan]

Kinda dirty around the circuit breakers.

[CJE.]

1.1 million yeah, give me 10 minutes to go dig that up in my backyard. Just like a car or a pickup and even homes pricing is through the roof. Forever in debt.

[ArloDuncan-iy]

Nice plane but who in their right mind would do this? The only possible way this makes sense is if they buy the AC and you buy it with the work done. Otherwise you'd be way better off just getting a G58 for that price or save yourself a bunch of cash and get other people to do the upgrades. That panel is 180k tops, engines are 120k and the most expensive interior you can get would top out at 50k. Paint would top out at 30k or so. You can do all of that work for 400k so why on earth are they charging 800k and who is the customer?

[iadcrjca]

Ok, so it has new paint, fancy upholstery, average avionics, and let’s face it, a lame name. Just don’t see the hype.