Personally I wouldn't start with an FP electric heli... IMO, a large, more stable CP nitro heli is hard enough to learn on. There are guys here in the forum that have gone that route though (like smokingcrater), and recommend it.

I started with a nitro heli, and went on to planes after that. If you have the time, determination, and the especially the money, you can get into nitro helis first. But that is the most difficult and most expensive one to start with. Helis are much more complex to build, tune, setup, and keep running. You'll need a more expensive radio, servos, receiver, and a gyro for a heli. If you start with an ARF plane, it will be much easier to build, setup, and get running, and you can get away with much cheaper radio gear.

They are both fun and challenging... and it sounds like you may end up getting into both planes and helis in the end!