Get off to transair buy one of the FAA PPl test prep programs for your PC you should be hitting 80-90% with 3 or 4 evenings work then go to the USA do the FAA ground exam at a computor test center (instant result)do the flight test and have the FAA PPL befor the pondlife at gatwick has issued your UK PPL.
The FAA issues a temporary airman certificate the instant you have passed the flight test the full certificate will follow by post about 8-10 weeks later but the TAC is as good as the "real thing"
CAA take note !
[ 23 August 2001: Message edited by: A and C ]