These guys in the US have gone a step further than flight sims and are using a "Heli-Chair".Sort of a cross between flight-sim and model helicopter flying.They claim it does the trick.Theres a video on the webpage showing a student hovering the R22 after only a couple of minutes flying time in the aircraft.All this after using the "Heli-Chair" first.
Have a look for yourself
http://www.heli-chair.com/