Johnson developed the aircraft into the Rocket 185 high performance side-by-side two-seater, which had a fabric covered tube fuselage and wooden wings. It was fitted with a retractable tricycle landing gear and an 185 hp Lycoming O-435A engine. The prototype Rocket 185, registered NX41662 (c/n 1), made its first flight in August 1945, it was certificated on September 10, 1946, and the first deliveries were made later that year.
Nineteen examples were built (c/n 1 to 19) but sales were poor and the company was taken over and renamed Rocket Aircraft Inc. No further Rockets 185swere built and the type certificate (A-776) passed into the hands of J.C. Pirtle.
The pictured aircraft was lost on September 3, 1972, when it stalled while in congested traffic pattern of Antique Air Field, Blakesburg, Iowa. The two occupants were killed, the aircraft was destroyed."