Hey, maybe I should clarify. I "vertically" hand launched my Katana 40 profile. Sometime I do it at full throttle and have it rocket out away from me. Sometimes I do it at half throttle so it starts hovering next to me.

As far as the hand catch, I've seen someone hand catch a power-glider when the engine is off. He basically flew the landing approach toward him, and caught it over his head.