The He 64 was a sleek, low-wing monoplane of conventional configuration, being furnished with fixed, tailskid undercarriage and a well-furnished and relatively spacious cockpit.

The automated slots permitted the aircraft to fly at steep climb angles and relatively low landing speeds.

First flown in 1933, the type promptly entered several air races; notably, it took the first three places in the 7,363 km (4,601 mi) Europa Rundflug ("Rally over Europe").

During the early 1930s, Heinkel decided to produce an aircraft that would be both capable of high speed flight and would specifically fulfil the competition requirements of the 3rd International Touring Contest.

[3] Relatively easy egress from the aircraft was achieved via a sliding transparent canopy that provided protection from the elements and good external visibility.

A variety of modern safety measures were incorporated into the aircraft, including the presence of fire extinguishers, life jackets, parachutes, a first aid kit, restraint belts, and fireproof doping.

[2] The exterior of the fuselage was covered in three-ply and featured several compact access panels that permitted easy inspection to the interior.

The automated slots were coupled to the trailing flaps; their use permitted the aircraft to fly at a relatively steep climbing angle as well as low landing speed could be reasonably obtained.

[citation needed] Data from Heinkel: An aircraft album,[6] National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics[7]General characteristics Performance