I did my PPL in 47 hours (including skills test) during a 3 month period last summer in south east England. The trial flight (and first lesson) at the club was the first time in a light aircraft for me.
The interesting thing is that I was NOT a "natural" and I did struggled a lot in the circuit before I got to do my first solo (22 hours). I believe I made up some time on navigation, something I never had a problem with on the ground, and as it turned out didn't have a problem with in the air either.
I was in full time work during this period, but I took a lot of afternoons and mornings off to accomodate the lessons.
Anyway, I believe the main reason for me doing it in nearly minimum time was:
- I always had the same Instructor and he was a natural teacher.
- I did eat, sleep and breath flying during this period.
- I flew a lot of hours per week (47 in 3 months).
- I choose an organisation with good availability of well maintained aircrafts and good instructors. Always accomodating my booking needs in the best way possible. I did choose an organisation more expensive than others, but in the end of the day I believe I did save money in doing so.