Welcome to torenvalk hop - the new name for Golden Age Aviation. As the business direction and market conditions have changed around us, combined with DC10 operations becoming unviable, this rebrand pivots our focuses toward what we're doing that is working - short hop routes around Europe that complement the existing torenvalk network.

History & how it started:

Flying the finest aircraft of days gone by. The avgeek express!

A business set up after a few drinks and an affectionate conversation about the aircraft I spotted as a child. Please don't compete too hard with this airline - we only exist for fun and our routes are destined to (almost certainly) lose money, just enjoy the idea of European DC10s in 2026 (or watching me fight desperately for survival) until the money runs out!

A nod to times gone by and many 80s/90s kids dreams of how things used to be.

News:
06.08.26 - Business launches with a DC10, BAE 146-200 and a Fokker 100. Our average aircraft age is 35 years, and our Fokker has a surprisingly large number of previous owners (the DC10 has zero, should I take this as a warning?!). Routes launched across Europe as feeders to be complemented by torenvalk and tornvalk shuttle. The DC10 is put to work on the long haul, specifically heading to Jakarta once per week to join networks with Paine's only other DC10 operator (will they accept my interlining request....). Day 1 bookings on the DC10 are zero.

Will this business exist next month? Why not come back and check in on us!

09.08.26 - Our first flights have flown! The good news - we now have an interlining contract with our fellow Paine-operating DC10 airline, and 48 Paine-world passengers have now been transported by tri-jet. The bad news: day 1 saw an operating loss of circa $200000. Work will now commence on improving that performance so we can survive (at least) a month.

12.08.26 - First week finished! We closed out the week with a financial rating of B and having moved 1860 pax. Not earth shattering, but not a disaster either. Loses weren't insignificant, but a picture of the markets that will lead to, if not profitability, self sufficiency is starting to emerge. Watch this space!

19.08.26 - As our second week closes out, changes are afoot. Firstly, the BAe 146 just couldn't make money, so sadly, it has been retired from the fleet. The week closed with a 19% loss overall, which reflects a substantial improvement on last week and is a benefit of focusing the DC10 on routes where it can really complement torenvalk operations and benefit from the feeder network. As we head forwards, we're taking a slightly more business focused step and taking on a 717, which again, will support torenvalk operations, rather than operating as a standalone enthusiast piece. This allows us to (hopefully) reach a position of stability (for now). The fokker 100 remains an utter disaster (financially speaking) but slightly less so than the 146. What a time for $51 fuel rates!

03.09.26
We're approaching the 1 month mark and, would you believe it, we're making money! As our AAA rating suggests, we closed out the last week to something of a profit, not huge by any means, but we're slowly getting back to where we started (bank account wise). Moving ahead, fleet focus will initially look toward growing what's working (717s) but only when the price is right. On the wish list is also an MD80, so expect to see one of these added soon. Finally, the quirky little quad jet will (hopefully) return to the fleet, but this time in the guise of an Avro RJ, rather than a 146 (hopefully the more modern version is able to cover its costs).

27.09.26
Although we're approaching 2 months of successful operations, this will be the last week of Golden Age Aviation. Owing to the rising fuel prices and commercial pressure, the DC10 is starting to slowly lose money. As such, the lease has been terminated and with the loss of our centre piece aircraft, it seems the right time to draw this project to a close. The 717s and Avro RJ will continue for now, but expect to see the enterprise managed into something different (as these aircraft are taking the business in a different direction organically).
Proud to have made a DC10 make money (albeit briefly) and to have been 1 of the 2 airlines in Paine to have operated the passenger type.

Golden Age Aviation Out.