Reminds me of my first high flight. R22 alpha. Climbed straight up with the instructor, up and up to 10'000' and straight back down to the field in an auto lasting about 5 minutes. Thought nothing of it at the time as I was on the steepest of learning curves with about 9 hours under my belt. Only reason we didnt go higher was the fact we'd both had bacon and egg butties for breakfast, too much tea, and the a/c had no more to give once the rpm drooped with collective tucked well up under my arm pit.
can't get anyone i fly with these days to want to go above 3k. Done FL85 back from offshore in an S76 a couple of times. Can't beat being 'on top'!!
Friend of mine is terrified of heights, won't go on a plane without being virtually comatose due to his fear of flying, but he happily climbed into an R22 with me a couple of times and we got to 5000'. Didn't bother him in the slightest. ??? Weird.