The CH-46 and CH-47 families have had a very interesting history of AFCS' (whatever Boeing wanted to call them, they eventually are all an Automatic system of some sort).
The latest version is probably one of the finest systems I've ever seen. Simple (relatively) to understand, does a nice job, and makes both the aircraft quite docile.
The CH-46 is the worse of the two with the AFCS off, and is probably due to the aerodynamic shape of the rear fin. I can't speak for earlier models of the CH-47, but the C and D are not bad with everything turned off.
The BV 234 is probably pretty close to the CH-47D, with differences in the electrics and flight instruments.
And the way to turn about the nose is simple to do, but difficult to describe - basically pedal against the cyclic. Turn about the tail is pedal with cyclic.
Empty? They are sports cars.