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The Heritage Aircraft Trust is a UK registered Charity (No. 1134981 - registered in 2010), which promotes itself under the Gnat Display Team brand. It has the following charitable objective:
TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT GNAT AND OTHER HISTORIC AIRCRAFT AS HSTORIC AIRCRAFT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND TO DEMONSTRATE AND DISPLAY SUCH AIRCRAFT AT PUBLIC EVENTS AND TO CONSERVE THEM AS HERITAGE ASSETS;
TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN GNAT AND OTHER HISTORIC AIRCRAFT.
The Folland Gnat aircraft has a unique space in British aviation history. Most famously used by the Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic team, it was also used to train more than 1400 fast jet pilots for the RAF. Given its supersonic speeds and superb handling capabilities, it was also used as a Fighter Jet by several foreign Air Forces.
The Charity maintains and displays 3 Folland Gnat aircraft. The team is already well-established in its 3rd season of airshow displays, and includes Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved engineers who run the Charity’s own authorised maintenance company maintaining the jets, as well as experienced volunteer pilots who all hold CAA Airshow Display Authorisations. The Charity also consists of 5 volunteer Charity Trustees, who manage the operations of the Charity on a day to day basis. 
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The Gnat Display Team has its home base at North Weald Airfield in Essex, near London in the UK. North Weald Airfield was first established in 1916, only 13 years after the Wright Brothers made the World's first powered flight. It initially served to protect London from the Zeppelin raids in the First World War. North Weald's finest hour came in the summer of 1940, when it served as a frontline airfield in the Battle of Britain.
During the Second World War, North Weald played host to Squadrons made up of many foreign nationals, including Americans, Czechs, Poles and also Norwegians, to which the airfield and village maintain special links to this day. Hurricanes, Spitfires and Blenheims were the most common types to be seen at North Weald.
In the 1950's the RAF's fast jets moved in. The airfield was put into care and maintenance in 1964, but came back to life when it had a starring role in the epic film "The Battle of Britain". In the early 70's a number of major airshows were staged at North Weald, including the very first International Air Tattoo in 1971.
The airfield remained active throughout the 70's and 80's, with several private collections of classic aircraft moving to the airfield. Airshows continued to be organised at North Weald into the late 90's, and today North Weald continues to host a wide and varied range of aircraft, with much activity centered around the Squadron, with its historic atmosphere and period buildings. The airfield museum is based in the former station office, outside which, is a memorial to all those who gave there lives while based at North Weald.
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