Here's a link to the 787 Operating Manual
https://toulouse747.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Boeing-787-Checkliste.pdf
Couple of relevant things to look at
Page 1: Pre-Take-Off
TAKE OFF FLAPS - SET
SPEED-BRAKES - RETRACTED
< SNIP >
Page 2: Take-Off [edits added for clarity]
CENTERED ON RUNWAY [Most pilots CALL 'CENTERLINE']
CALL OUT 80 KNOTS [Most add 'THRUST NORMAL']
V1 [Decision Speed - Stop on remaining runway or continue takeoff] - CALL
VR [Rotate - get nose up] - CALL
V2 [Safety Speed - can climb with one engine out] - CALL
POSITIVE CLIMB - CALL
LANDING GEARS - UP
As can be seen in the videos of this tragic accident, the landing gear is down
Following the above checklist (which is basically the same as in any airplane with more than one engine) as soon as you have 'Positive Rate' (of climb) the gear should go up
So, they must not have ever had sustained positive rate? However, reportedly, they did make it to around 600 feet above the runway before descending at about 500 feet per minute
Why not? This is for the crash investigators to determine. To my non-expert eyes, the videos are too blurred to say anything about how the flaps were set and I have no idea of what the proper settings would be for the runway conditions they faced
Most pilots are pretty good. Most are very careful. Most don't want to die, along with their passengers, in a flaming ball of aluminum
I do have a US commercial, multiengine rating. I have never flown a turbine aircraft. I have experienced non-training engine losses in a twin
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