You have to press it multiple times so that it's more fluid; if I made is so you pressed it just once then it would skyrocket upwards wouldn't be as realistic. And basically any helicopter will act like the magic carpet unfortunately :/
Well, what if you have to press it just once but it would add just a tiny bit velocity..
Now it adds a lot of velocity upwards, it looks a bit like it is teleporting upwards :/
That all helicopters work like the magic carpet is a shame, though your space bar solution is a good one ;)