The whole point of V1 is to make sure that you don't have to make a split second decision. Fly it as briefed!

We all can ask questions like, do i have thrust reversers, what kind of airplane, how much runway left? However, the fact is that I fly an Embraer, I'm not a Brazilian engineer and I myself did not crunch the numbers. So, I'm going to fly it as briefed.

Flaps are set on or before taxi at most airlines and many 135s.

You did your performance calculations to find your t/o weight, flap and trim setting.

You perform a checklist as you are crossing the threshold.

As you push the levers forward, you get a warning if the configuration isn't right.


Point is, you have about 6 points between push and takeoff roll where you check to make sure this doesn't happen.

If I had experience in the plane, and I knew the "feel" was off, I would not attemp the takeoff. There are many accidents that were the fault of incorrectly set flaps with the plane not being able to fly out of ground effect. The only thing that scares me is a flight control failure, and not having the flaps set properly (ie failed) is a no win scenario. (unless you can get to Vclean in ground effect, which is unlikely) Better to be safe than sorry. You know the old saying, I'd rather be tried by the Chief pilot than carried by 6. (OK, so I'm paraphrasing). I actually had a stick shaker at 35 ft even though the airspeed was increasing. I stayed in ground effect as long as I could, until we hit Vclean and climbed out then. Turned out it was a stuck AOA vane, but it scared the Bejezus out of me.

Cliff's notes version: The plane will not fly if the flaps aren't in the correct position for the Vspeed selected. I would not continue the takeoff.

first you go to 'radar thrust' which is where you shove the throttles thru the radar.

call for flaps 5 on a Boeing or 1 on the 'bus or 8 (can I remember that far back) on the -80.

w/ no less than 1000ft remaining start the rotation

pull the airplane into the air and if you need a bit more authority, a few dits of nose up trim.

all this considering no other indications it will not fly.