This is all presuming your not flying a lightning or something else which can stand on its tail and off
Mad Jock
Obviously at some point the AOA will reduce and the amount of power available will have a bearing! You talk of the lightning but look at a rocket which defies gravity or even a Harrier or a Canon ball out of a canon.
We are looking for the best method for given aircraft which will result in minimum height loss at the recovery and in the Citation its not making a positive pitch forward.
Note for light aircraft the bit I added on the previous post on the Husky!
My instincts are to pitch forward but its not the best method for all aircraft although reducing AOA in small increments while relying more on power/thrust can be.
Pace