Though officially a three-seater, it would be more accurately described as a "two-and-a-half-seater", as two adults would find themselves quite cramped in the wider rear seat.

Those built from 1944 to 1946 included design changes developed for the United States Navy HE-1 flying ambulance, and these models have internal bungees.

The later J-5C also built as the HE-1 (later AE-1) ambulance for the U.S. Navy with rear hinged fuselage decking, used the fully cowled 100 h.p.

Lycoming Military O-235-2 or Civilian O-235-B engine with an electrical system, and redesigned landing gear.

It was the least successful of the three Cruiser designs in terms of aircraft sold, with 238 being built in 1948/49,[3] and only about one hundred remain in existence.