I did try it in a 44 once at the robinson factory. We entered at 110kts or so and easily gained over 400ft.
Interesting. How's things after instructing? (So envious, PM if time, I wish all best though)
I was thinking of R22, its rotor system and 'hauling back cyclic' or 'pulling hard' collective. Hmm. Hmm. No thanks.
I did use gentle aft cyclic sometimes for bit of extra climb @50kt, when taking off from end of Charlie pattern patch on hot day (thus safer height over poles/cables). I'm yet to learn to execute all the fiddling with controls and judging the length of flare, height, coordination doing autos to hover. As I'm back to UK, maybe in two years or so next time I'd do more rotary training..
Money, ehm.
Didn't expect R44 to be much better/safer at such maneuvre as the mast is about the same and I've read enough here about all the nasty stuff on Robinsons. Plus the inertia thing - less than R22, but still.