Peter, it will save you a lot of money if you do your fixed wing licenses first.
PPl-IR-CPL SE then helicopter CPl add-on and heli IR add-on.
The advantage also being dual rated.
AFAIK heli is still about twice as expensive as fixed wing training, even in the USA. It will also give you a lot more choice in schools to go to initially.
Here is an online version of the US regulations;
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...14cfrv2_02.tpl
Check the following parts; 61.129 (c) for the flight time requirements.