[n86121]

I was a heli-chopter owner pilot first, and originally saw no valid reason to go over 1,000 ft. Nothing the see up there.

But when getting a 'thrasher years ago, original mission to/from WashDC/Boston, I experienced the anemic hot summer climb of a non-turbo above 9,000 ft with 3.5 people aboard up the east coast. One of my instructors could have been a linebacker, the other a skinny french guy.

So not sure, I got a turbo, and have had it for 25+ years (during which time, I must note, like Dorian Gray, I've not aged a day). It's a full RSTOL which has other advantages.

On hot summer days, it is really really really really nice to quickly pop up over the convective layer quickly with family, friends, kids, dog on board. Around Wash DC that's often 6-9k.

On a x country to OSH last year, below 9-10k it was hot and humid. Lots of near convection, bump bump bump.

We quickly popped up on top, dropped down for lunch in Port Clinton, popped up again. All nice an cozy, all the time thinking of the poor slobs stuck down below bouncing and sweating.

There was a line of WX between Clinton and OSH. Easily and quickly popped up briefly to 14k over the top, Piece of cake. Like skiing giant moguls at 200 mph.

Whole trip would've been a slog below 12k, or climbing to/from, coming and going.

That said, we have a beach house in NC. I often fly low along the shoreline, down the Potomac river, across the Chesapeake bay, wrap around NAS Oceana, along the NC beach, then climb UP (!) to pattern in Hatteras. (Re3member, a heli pilot. To us 1k ft is high).

When I do that, throttle back, music playing, turbos are just idling at lower power.

Things could be a lot worse...