As a retired accident investigator, I am sometimes near to tears when I imagine the terrible last moments of passengers on so many avoidable crashes. What a bizarre world we live in when motorcar builders have no problems installing a camera and small screen in order that drivers can view what is behind them before moving. Yet an airline aircraft such as the MD-82 does not have a similar system with a fin-mounted camera so that the pilots can simply glance at a small screen to verify that the aircraft is configured for take-off. Why in God's name don't the regulators just say "DO IT!" I recall, when instructing, my students omitting to set take-off flap. Usually, I just let them experience the situation when they rotated...how different the aircraft felt and how they would have to take some action as the stall-warning horn bleeped; like lower the nose for goodness sake and fly the aeroplane! Regardless of a missed checklist item, and a failed warning system, and a flap position indicator reading Zero Flap, and a density altitude of approx. 4,000 feet, I feel, given such a long runway (6,000 metres is it?) that had the pilot flying reverted to basic Airmanship and rammed the power levers full forward, lowered the nose a few degrees to reduce drag and exercised some cool patience, the aircraft would have continued to accelerate readily to about 1.4 times (only my estimate) the scheduled Vr and flown away quite safely, albeit at a somewhat non-standard deck-angle. I am assuming now that both engines were operating normally. Isn't it a terrible irony that there may well have been a pilot passenger sitting back there who noted the lack of flap but was unable to do anything about raising a concern. It might also have been that one of the cabin crew also noted the anomaly but elected not to grab the phone and urgently query it. And, one wonders, whether the pilots were aware of the unserviceable alerting system? Had they been, then it may have been prudent to double check the few vital items that are essential for a VFR take-off. Like is fuel-flow assured, is the stabiliser trim set, are the flight controls free and fully moving...just the basics for flight really. I presume the MD-82 has a stick-shaker? Was it serviceable? It will be interesting to eventually read of the condition of this aircraft's systems as compared with the Minimum Equipment List's (MEL) requirements.........And, even if the crew elected to accept the aircraft outside some MEL item (and I know it is going on with some carriers) why not despatch the F/O back to take a look at the flap setting; or am I being hopelessy old-fashioned and engaging in historic "back-to-basics" dreaming? But before you scoff too much at an old pilot's musings, note this well. The "basics" of sound airmanship and first principle are still in everday use in many parts of the world such a Papua New Guinea. So you younger pilots; never forget you are, by LAW, in COMMAND and, when all is turning into the proverbial, the first rule is still "FLY THE AEROPLANE"......maybe as you have never flown before. Like so many facets of our technical life, it only matters when it really matters...if you get my drift. I love modern simulators and only wish we had had them when I began airline ops. We used to lose aircraft and crews on training flights. Chief pilots; try to organise more hand-flying time for your crews. But that is another whole subject so I shall shut my mouth now, except to say that I know pilots do their very best when things go bad, and I feel sure that the Spanair chaps did their utmost also.