[H2Finally]

Is this similar to tying the tail off a (model) airplane and gunning the engine and see if the plane will lift vertically off without any forward horizontal movement?

If under normal conditions a plane's engine must work with or against prevailing wind to create enough trust for lift, then presumably you can get one with big enough jets or propellers that will be able to create enough backwash of airstream to lift the plane without the plane actually moving forward.

So if the engine is big enough and/or in the right place relative to creating the airstream against the wings, maybe?

Now, wheather or not the plane can control yaw and pitch the moment it's airborne, without "normal" airstream, I'm not certain..