In 1950, Aircraft Manufacturing Co. acquired the rights to produce a refined four-seat version of the Johnson Rocket, which it called the Texas Bullet. The original Rocket was powered by a 185-hp four cylinder Lycoming engine; the Texas Bullet changed over to a Continental of the same rating. Also, the fabric covering of the Rocket was traded for an all-metal, flush-riveted skin, and a redesigned tail was added. The Bullet sported a top speed of 210 mph, a cruise speed of 183 mph, and a climb rate of 900 fpm.
Overall, the new refinements added only 100 pounds to the empty weight, and 50 pounds were added to the fully loaded weight. Exhaust gasses from the engine of the Rocket and Bullet were led into a unique “jet assist” cylinder below the fuselage. It was claimed that the device converted engine exhaust into useful thrust at speeds faster than 40 mph. Also, both aircraft made use of a Hartzell hydro-selective two-blade variable-pitch propeller.
Don Gabriel
My wifes Aunt and Uncle died in Va after he had bought a used Texas Bullet….an airline pilot wanted to buy it, met the relatives, Aunt and Uncle (owners) let the Airline pilot fly it and they rode along in it…..shortly after takeoff something happened and it went down in the woods short of the runway…..all were killed after it crashed and burned…..
I forgot to mention that at that time I held a Commercial Pilots License and had asked to fly that plane several times…..the relative who owned it said it scared him and he had not flown it prior to the crash…..he had years of flying planes he had owned but this one killed him and his wife along with the airline pilot….FAA never came out with a reason for the crash……..
November 2025
All Aero 