The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger, the name of a project of the Emergency Fighter Program design competition, was a German single-engine, jet-powered fighter aircraft fielded by the Luftwaffe in World War II. Designed and built quickly, and made primarily of wood.

• Role: Fighter
• National origin: Germany
• Manufacturer: Heinkel
• First flight: 6 December 1944
• Introduction: 1945
• Status: 9 aircraft in museums
• Retired: 1945
• Number built: ca 320

Specifications (He 162A)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1, pilot with ejection seat
• Length: 9.05 m (29 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 7.2 m (23 ft 7 in)
• Height: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 11.16 m² (156 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,660 kg (3,660 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 2,800 kg (6,180 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × BMW 003E-1 or E-2 (meant for dorsal fuselage attachment) axial flow turbojet, 7.85 kN (1,760 lbf)
• Fuel capacity of 695 litres (183 US gallons), allowing maximum 30 minute mission profile

Performance

• Maximum speed: 790 km/h (491 mph) at normal thrust at sea level; 840 km/h (522 mph) at 6000 m (19,680 ft); using short burst extra thrust 890 km/h (553 mph) at sea level and 905 km/h (562 mph) at 6000 m (19,680 ft).
• Range: 975 km (606 mi)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,400 ft)
• Rate of climb: 1,405 m/min (4,615 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 autocannons with 120 rpg (He 162 A-2) OR 2 × 30 mm MK 108 cannons with 50 rpg (He 162 A-0, A-1)