Flex and php newbie question

I have read on the adobe website that you could use php with flex.I know for applications to run on the desktop they have to be a .air format,like most tweeter desktop clients.I am therefore curious,wont one need things like apache and mysql for your app开发者_JAVA百科 in php and flex or is everything transformed into a single .air including all your webserver.

PHP is used for the backend only. The client is written in Flex. Both communicate via AMF. So yes, you need a webserver and network connection for this. See The architecture of Flex and PHP applications

The .air file contacts your webserver over their internet connection.