Heritage aircraft is a term applied to both old aircraft

Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...

 from preceding generations with correct period aircraft livery

Aircraft livery

Aircraft livery is a paint scheme applied to an aircraft, generally to fuselage, wings, empennage , or jet engines. Most airlines have a standard paint scheme for their aircraft fleet, usually prominently displaying the airline logo or name. From time to time special liveries are introduced, for...

 (called a historic aircraft) and currently in-service aircraft painted in a historic livery (called a retrojet aircraft).

Historic aircraft

Historic aircraft are located in an aviation museum

Aviation museum

An aviation museum, air museum or aerospace museum is a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of aviation. In addition to actual or replica aircraft, exhibits can include photographs, maps, models, dioramas, clothing and equipment used by aviators.Aviation museums vary in size from housing...

 or may still be flown. However the term is evolving to include modern aircraft painted in a historic livery still in service with airline

Airline

An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...

s.

In the United Kingdom, several World War II aircraft are maintained in flying condition by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane...

 and the Royal Navy Historic Flight

Royal Navy Historic Flight

right|350px|thumb|Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VR930 with wings folded, at Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire, England.The Royal Navy Historic Flight maintains and flies a small number of aircraft that are important to British Naval aviation. The organisation is not part of the military establishment; it...

.

Retrojet aircraft

A retrojet is a modern aircraft with a historic livery frequently used to commemorate and celebrate the history of an airline and advertise airline itself. A retrojet scheme is usually a livery that had been disused for at least twenty years. Retrojets became a widespread phenomenon in the late 1990s.