Heinkel He 162A-1 Volksjäger

  • Period: Second World War (1939-1945)
  • Uses: Fighter
  • First Flight: December 6, 1944
  • Display Status: On the Museum Floor.

The Heinkel He 162 jet fighter was conceived, designed, and built in 90 days as a last attempt by Germany to avoid defeat in Second World War. Intended as an inexpensive fighter, the Heinkel He 162 could be built by semi-skilled labour out of non-strategic materials. After initial aerodynamic and structural problems were solved, the German Air Force began receiving Heinkel He 162s in 1945, but there is no evidence that they saw action. Records from the period are incomplete, and it is not known exactly how many were built.

Total scheduled output of Heinkel He 162s was to be 4000 per month. Pilots supplied for this vast output were to be given glider training and assigned directly to this jet fighter. It is fortunate that this plan was never realised since the He 162 was no machine for the inexperienced. Even seasoned pilots had to use extremely smooth and delicate control movements to stay out of trouble. A rudimentary ejection seat carried the pilot past the engine air-intake on bailout.

Museum Example

  • Registration #: 120086 (GAF)
  • Manufacturer: Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Germany
  • Manufacture Date: 1945
  • Construction #: Unknown
  • Aquisition Date: 1964
  • Provenance: Transfer from RCAF

This aircraft was assembled in 1945 and sent to England for assessment later the same year. It was shipped to Canada for storage in 1946, and transferred to the Canadian War Museum in 1964.

Specifications

Wing Span:
7.2 m (23 ft 7 1/2 in)
Length:
9 m (29 ft 6 1/4 in)
Height:
2.6 m (8 ft 6 3/4 in)
Weight, Empty:
1,663 kg (3,667 lb)
Weight, Gross:
2,490 kg (5,490 lb)
Cruising Speed:
Unknown
Max Speed:
835 km/h (519 mph)
Rate of Climb:
1,280 m (4,200 ft) /min
Service Ceiling:
12,020 m (39,440 ft)
Range:
1,000 km (621 mi)
Power Plant:
one BMW-109-003E-1 Sturm axial flow jet engine, 800 kg (1,764 lb) static thrust