I went to the States to become a fixed wing pilot - for the money and the hosties, obviously... Whilst I was there a man named Osama got up to a few things which resulted in no career prospects and the potential to lose all my money - helicopters were a viable option and a good way to blow the money fast, before the school could go bust. The bonus is that you can fly low, slow and backwards a lot more (plus no 500' rule in the states!) - you're not IFR in big long straight lines everywhere. Plus after becoming a REAL pilot - handling again plank is childsplay...