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Ingenium Canada Aviation and Space Museum

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Heinkel He 162A-1 Volksjäger (120086)

Hours and Location

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday to Monday
Address
11 Aviation Parkway, Ottawa, ON
Admission
Browse all Visitor Information for Canada Aviation and Space Museum
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Heinkel He 162A-1 Volksjäger (120086)

Heinkel He 162A-1 Volksjäger (120086)

Highlights:

  • A German Second World War jet fighter designed by Heinkel Flugzeugwerke GmbH and produced from 1944 to 1945
  • Designed and built for the Luftwaffe in 90 days, as a last-ditch effort to stave off Germany's defeat
  • Supplemented the Messerschmitt Me 262, a more complex and expensive jet
  • Built mainly of wood with a single engine for fast, inexpensive production
  • Commonly known as "the Volksjäger," or "people's fighter"
  • With a BMW engine, it was among the fastest of the first-generation jet fighters
  • Though intended for Hitler Youth with minimal training, the few Volksjägers that briefly saw combat were flown by experienced pilots
  • First flight was on December 6, 1944

Image Gallery:

CASM-11994

CASM-19460

CASM-20639

History:

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.

Current Location:

Second World War Exhibition, Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Provenance:

Transfer from the Royal Canadian Air Force

This Volksjäger was assembled by Heinkel Flugzeugwerke GmbH at the Heinkel-Nord plant in Rostock-Marienehe, Germany, probably in late February or March 1945. The aircraft was captured from the Luftwaffe at Leck on May 8, 1945. Shipped to the United Kingdom in June of the same year, it was exhibited as a war trophy in Hyde Park, London during September. Stored in the United Kingdom until the following spring, it was shipped to Canada in September 1946 and, in the RCAF's possession, likely stored. It was transferred to the Canadian War Museum in 1964 and to this Museum by 1967.

Technical Information:

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

Heinkel He 162A-1 Volksjäger (120086)

AVIATION
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Artifact No.
1967.0666
Manufacturer
Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke GmbH
Manufacturer Location
Germany
Manufacture Date
1945
Acquisition Date
1964
Registration Number
120086 (GAF)
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About Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Located on a former military air base just five kilometers from the Prime Minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum focuses on aviation in Canada within an international context – from its beginnings in 1909 to today.
Read more about the museum

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Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway
Ottawa ON K1K 2X5
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  • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Hours
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    • Browse All Visitor Information
    • Buy Tickets
    • Online Resources for Science at Home
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    • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Flights and Simulations
    • Spaces and Studios
  • Bookings and Rentals
    • School Programs
    • Summer Camps
    • Venue Rentals
    • Travelling Exhibitions
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Group Visits
    • Birthday Parties
  • Educational Programs
    • School Programs
    • Virtual Field Trips
    • Program Location
      • At the Museum
      • At your School
      • Online
      • Browse all Educational Programs
    • Popular Links
      • 3D Educational Resources
      • Digital Learning Kits
      • Games and Apps
      • Online Resources for Science at Home
      • Try This Out
  • Collection and Research
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    • Research Projects
    • Collection Resources
      • Ingenium Collection
      • Collection Highlights
      • Conservation and Collection Services
    • Library and Archives
      • Library and Archives Services
      • Library Catalogue
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    • Open Access
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  • Projects and Initiatives
    • Ingenium Channel
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