I flew it first in 1969/70 when the engine problems with the Nimbus were at their worst, requiring an ultra-sonic check on the free turbine each time the engine was stopped. Since this needed to be done by an engineer and took half an hour after it had cooled down, we didn't get a lot done.
I flew it most in Hong Kong in 71/74 and found it to be be a very solid beast with good lifting performance. We usually flew with 4/5 Gurkhas in the back while 28 Sqdn RAF were only lifting 5/6 in their Whirlwinds.
I think that by then most of the problems with the Nimbus had been sorted. We had only one engine failure with five aircraft in two and a half years. Chap dropped into HK harbour on take-off from Chatham Rd Barracks (I think). Popped the floats, flagged down a passing junk, barely got his feet wet.
Apart from the Nimbus, I liked it very much although I'd have to agree that engine-off landings were character forming. Having converted from the Bell 47, I found the ROD alarming.