The pilot made two excursions down the runway before the aircraft became airborne on the third excursion.
Here's the best lesson from this thread: three attempts at take-off is too many. The Elizabethan in the Munich aircrash made two aborted take-offs before its final, fatal attempt.
On the flaps issue, using flap in various ways and indeed putting it on during the take-off roll are standard techniques in a variety of aircraft. There is no controversy.
People seem to get rather stressy that a novice may read advice on this forum, go away and try it and end up in the trees. Indeed they may, but more fool them. If you get your licence and you still don't realise that flying is waiting to bite you then you deserve all you get. On the other hand, we all need to learn ways of expanding our personal flight envelopes and I have certainly learnt a very great deal from this forum and others, especially
www.supercub.org.
Today on the radio an MP was introducing a bill to limit (yes, by law!) domestic hot water temp to 48 degrees so that babies don't get scalded. Many of us fly because it gives a feeling of release and freedom from this kind of BS we have to put up with in society today. Don't let's infuse flying with the same neurotic over-protection.
Yrs,
SafetyQDM