Welcome to PPrune Tim.
Detailed discussion of the Optica probably might be better done over a beer at some suitable occasion, and I'll make sure I join up Genghis and real life next we meet - but in general terms...
Safe, superb view, stable and quiet. No faults, though I thought the stick force, in rotation a touch high, probably due to tailplane rotation.
Is almost certainly true, not far off my own experiences of the type, but says absolutely nothing about its suitability as a police observation aircraft. At that point, it becomes altogether more interesting. I know several TPs whose opinions about its fitness for role are somewhat unflattering - which didn't stop any of us enjoying the flight.
Regarding the HAV airship - I know a few people on the inside and personally, I'm pretty optimistic about it also.
G