Originally Posted by
TheRotorTrash
Having the ability to hover means you are able to fly as slow as you want, all the way down to zero. As far as practical/operational instrument airspeed It’s aircraft and SOP dependent. We typically flew the approach at 90 KIAS in the H-1. Cruising IFR we’d pull around 120 KIAS. You can fly around at 5 knots if you were so inclined, but there isn’t much utility in it.
Been awhile but my experiences in poor visibility / no visible horizon flying at very low forward airspeeds approaching a hover were challenging at best to scary at worst. Vertigo, somatogravic & somatogyral illusions, etc. As a point of reference I flew the AH-1 and have logged plenty of low "I Follow Roads" time as well as plenty of tactical low vis low and slow flying. Still alive, somewhat due to my flying a multi pilot aircraft in those conditions :-O