Moe, I'm not trying to be an ***.

Just explaining where Im coming from. Learning heli's is hard. Its alot of work. I still cant do everything I want with a heli, but Im learning. I would have liked to have a experienced heli pilot help me out, but it just wasnt an option. That being the case, you can learn without a sim, and without an instructor. Just be safe, and go slowly.

Im just really hesitant to recommend a sim to a newbie. He will probably spend a few weeks on the sim. He will be able to do all sorts of stuff with the sim. Then he goes and buys a heli, and trys to fly it like the sim. Next thing you know hes got a broken heli. Then he comes on here raving mad and screaming "This heli flys like poo". When in reality, it flys just like it should, he just got spoiled on the sim.

All Im saying is if you do use a sim, just be aware that a real heli isnt as easy.