As stated, your airplane experience will help some, but not all the way. Take it slow, use the methods described with training gear and make sure the heli is set up right and you will be fine. They seem hard at first, but it usually doesn't take long to pick it up. Just don't get it high right away or you will get confused, and then there is nowhere to go but back to the parts store. Take it slow and you won't crash it as much. Most of my students have yet to crash and some are flying forward now. Crashes always happen at some point though, even to the best pilots.

Have fun with it and fly safe. Don't stand too close. We all tend to do that. I think I am the worst offender of that one.