Originally Posted by
breakscrew
secondly, whether it is better to train straight onto a helicopter or to learn on a fixed wing first?
Training schools may well tell you otherwise, but I always suggest to go FW first, then move on to helicopters. Airmanship is much easier to learn on a stable plank wing, and as already mentioned, the PPL/A in Australia has credit to reduce the hours needed for helicopter licence.
The Military used to go that route when I went through, and I'm sure that they had a reasonable justification for it! My FW first solo was 7 hours, but the helicopter took me 10: I must have forgotten something along the way
