Originally Posted by
ShyTorque
Lockwood 16,
It takes a very large amount of power for a helicopter to ascend vertically to 1,000 feet, compared to a more normal angled climb, as your neighbour appears to sensibly fly. Also, if the engine stopped during such a manoeuvre, it puts the aircraft in an aerodynamic situation that may be unrecoverable. Someone already mentioned the "dead man's curve". This is a combination of speeds and height (a curve on a graph, determined by extensive testing by the manufacturer's test pilots) that would be highly likely to result in a crash if the engine did lose power. A vertical climb (of more than an ascent of just a few feet, not much more than the rotor diameter) puts a single engined helicopter right in that situation, so it's a manoeuvre that really must be avoided. If an accident resulted from a pilot flying in this way, the insurers would be greatly "displeased" to say the least.
As far as a vertical landing from a 1,000 foot hover is concerned, the above is of a similar concern, but for slightly different aerodynamic reasons. If you search for and read up about the phenomenon known as "Vortex ring state", with reference to helicopters, you will hopefully begin to understand why this isn't done - again it is likely to result in a major accident! Also, descending vertically means that the pilot can't actually see where he's going!
Here's one reference:
https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Vortex_Ring
Actually, in the R22 once you pass 400' you are out of your "dead man's curve" and an auto from a hover is doable...especially if your landing area is right below you,...and yes I have done them,...well, from 500' anyway.
As for landing, he can easily come in quietly, its a simple technique, someone just needs to show him how,...if he cares to learn?