Hi, Im 41 and I started flying helis about 2 months ago. Helis are extremely challenging to master, and thats the reason why I love it so much. I always get an adrenaline rush after a flight. I highly recommend you get a good sim. I use Reflex XTR and its one of the most realistic sims for heli out there. I started with a Sceadu Evo 50, its nice and big and stable heli for beginners even in high winds. I recently bought a Trex 450seV2, its very agile and twitchy even with flybar weights added, more difficult to fly than the Sceadu, but I love it cos its a fly anywhere heli. Here's a video of me maidening my Trex:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrdyEWj2dB0