V1 question.
I always thought V1 was calculated as the last point in the take off roll that the take off could be safely abandoned and the aeroplane brought to a stop on the runway. Therefore, a problem occuring after V1, unless catastrophic, would be taken into the air and dealt with once airborn. It follows (I'd have thought) that the V1 calculation must take into account available runway length (is there enough length left to stop in?).
Talking to a retired 747 / 777 BA pilot the other day it transpired this is not the case. He though this was daft, and it does seem so.
If you are taking off from a dry salt lake bed with 20 miles of 'runway' available, surely you've never reach V1 as you could abandon the take off and safely stop right up to the point of rotation and lift off.
So, what's V1 really about, then?