How old is your flight???

 The age of an aircraft your flying in usually doesn't cross your mind as you walk up the steps, the plane is nice and shiny, the logo is bright and fresh and the seats are clean.  Thing is these are repainted or replaced every so often, these often hide the real age of an aircraft.
 Now to be fair a properly looked after older aircraft isn't necessarily more dangerous that a newer one.... that's if it's maintained properly. Trouble in maintenance is expensive, taking a plane out of line for a small job can cost an airline dearly, so there's a natural tendency to "see how it goes" if it's not something serious.  Trouble is small problems become big problems at 35.000 feet.

 Take the Iran Aseman flight 3704 an ATR 72-200 that crashed into mount Dena on the 18th feb this year killing all 65 persons aboard.
 This aircraft is over 24 years old. Now as I say that may not be a factor in the accident, but how many people drive a 24 year old car never mind fly in something that age.

 The Antonov that crashed in Russia  on the 11th Feb was a mere eight years old.

 So next time you board a plane ask the crew how old the aircraft is and see what expression you get on their face, that might tell you more than their answer.....