Medwin,
Depending on the aircraft, the airborne segments maybe better or worse with a higher flap setting.
It will normally get airborne sooner with a higher flap settng as the stall speed is reduced, allowing a lower rotation speed.
Airborne gradients are effected by the IAS and rate or climb.
The rate of climb is generally less with flap out, due to the additional drag at a given airspaeed, and and hence less excess power to enable the aircraft to climb.
The lower IAS for a given flap setting will generally result in a lower gradiet, if you were to draw a triangle with IAS along the horizontal scale, and ROC on the vertical scale you would get the gradient as being the resultant slope.
The overall obstacle clearance is generally better as the aircraft lifts of the runway sooner, further away from the obstacle, which overall will give a better obstacle clearance
Most aircraft types have a lower gradients airborne, however airbus aircraft have a higher gradient with a higher flap setting due to the advanced geometry/lift capabilty of the wing with flap/slats out.
