With TTAF identical, is a younger aluminum (not composite)aircraft safer than an older one. I don't care about maintenance costs, as I amguessing a younger aircraft is probably cheaper to maintain. I am basicallytrying to understand how age versus TTAF affects safety, i.e. structuralintegrity as control lines, etc get inspected / replaced annually.
For example, how does a 1995 Piper Arrow III with TTAF 3500 compare (structural safety wise) with a 1978 model with same TTAF. For comparison, neither have corrosion, no outstanding AD's etc.
I guess I am asking what causes aircraft to structurally fail, TTAF or age?