Desktop app based on AIR using Flex

Hi
I am a .NET/PHP programmer and is new to Flex. We have a requirement for a small desktop application to be provided as a service download (ref: BBC news ticker). I read that Flex would be a good option.
My questions are as follows:
1. Your feedback on using Flex
2. Is Flex 4 to Flex 3 better to start with (newbie)
3. Do I require any other investment other than Flash Builder
4. Any disdvantages in using Flex compared to a Windows app (apart from OS compatibility issues)
I may be asking too many questions in my first post itself. However, this will help me to decide the technology for my requirement.
Kindly request all Flex developers who has some time to spare to reply to my above post. Thanks in advance for all your vaulable inputs.
Regards
Sheni

Sorry.
I run this code only on debug-build.
Exported release build does not reproduce the crash.
To reproduce on release ipa package,
change BaseView#doSomething function like this.
public function doSomething(e:*):void
trace("do something"); // Add this line
Could you please try again.
I run the app on
iPad mini + iOS 8.1
AIR SDK version 17.0.0 build 96
Flash Builder 4.7
Regards.

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