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The Volksjager flew for the first time on December 6 1944. The whole project was started and finished in a little bit over six months and the first deliveries took place in January 1945. The specifications were issued by the RLM in September for a jet fighter with a speed of 750 km/h, possibility of take off from 500 m airstrip, armed with two 30 mm cannons and with non-strategic materials used for construction. The production was supposed to reach 4000 aircraft per month, but only 300 had been completed (including various sub-variants) and 800 more were waiting on the assembly lines by the end of the war. The aircraft featured several advanced technological innovations. This included engine driven alternator and hydraulic pump to operate flaps and landing gear, blown acrylic windshield and canopy and ejection seat. The fuselage was built from a light metal with plywood nose and wooden wings and fins and the BMW 003 turbojet engine on the back. During the first flight show, the pilot died in a crash caused by a defective wood bonding in the wing, which came apart. The aircraft had many bad characteristics and was difficult to fly even by an experienced pilot. A speed of more than 180 km/h was required for take off and the undercarriage could not be retracted until the plane reached 300 km/h. Any turns were not possible below this speed either. The maximum safe speed during a dive was set at 950 km/h. He-162A-2 was the main production variant, however, several prototypes of different versions were built. These were powered by different engines such as Jumo 004B, Argus As 044, As 004 and As 014 or Heinkel-Hirth HaS 011. There was also a version with BMW 003R engine, which consisted of BMW 003A and a rocket engine BMW 718. The trainer variant was designated He-162S and was similar to He-162A-2 except it had a second cockpit and did not have an engine. The He-162S was a glider with a longer wing span.
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