"Do you have PPL experience or an idea on the avarege hours flying, a PPL licence holder would fly?'
That has no relevance to how many hours you will fly. It will depend on the kind of flying you enjoy. You won't know until you've had your PPL or LAPL for several months, and have got accustomed to flying without an instructor's advice.

My one experience of gliding was that I got ten minutes in the air for an entire evening spent hanging around the gliding club.

That I expected, but what I wasn't expecting was that per minute in the air it wasn't much cheaper than powered flying.

Sounds like you had the mispleasure of being at a rubbish ripoff club. Those exist in every form of aviation and are dying out thankfully, I found one local flying school to me charging north of £220ph for PPL instruction in a 152 not including landing fees!!

@BDM,

Sorry for my rather late reaction. "And I'd be happy to take you up in a glider to give you an idea of what that is like if you haven't had the opportunity before." Well it sounds like an offer I just can't refuse. Any chance we can arrange something?

@ everyone who took the effort to write down your thoughts.

Thanks for sharing and providing some food for thought.

"My one experience of gliding was that I got ten minutes in the air for an entire evening spent hanging around the gliding club."
"Sounds like you had the mispleasure of being at a rubbish ripoff club."

Generally height is more of a problem with gliders. Not too sure which gliders give the most head-room, but some can be a bit cramped. I remember the canopy being lowered onto one guest flier.. He said.. Ouch.! but managed to scrunch up a bit for the flight.

I did my PPL in a 172 back in 2003/4. Total cost at the time was around 7.5k IIRC, got in around 50h. The problem for me came afterwards - buying a share in a lovely little 2-seat taildragger that needed a lot of TLC and often had niggling problems. At first this was all part of the 'joy' of flying, but for me I realised too late it also eroded my confidence. I was always keeping half an eye out for issues, and became reticent to take friends and loved ones up. My hour long drive each way to the field meant a quick bimble was a half-day affair, and my hours dwindled along with my competence. In the end a move away from the area sealed it, and I haven't flown in 10 years. I'd dearly love to get my license back, but I simply don't think that will happen now, finance-wise.

I'm relating this to you as IMHO 12 hours a year in an aircraft you have confidence in will, I think, be OK. 24 more than adequate. Its the quality of the hours that count too I think.

As to the height thing, I'm 6' and have sat in an Icarus C42 marvelling at the room inside. I think you'd have no issues in something like that, unless you're 'all leg'. I chose the 172 to learn in as I'm a broad chap, so two abreast in a 152 with my first instructor (nickname Chunky) was... interesting.

"The problem for me came afterwards - buying a share in a lovely little 2-seat taildragger that needed a lot of TLC and often had niggling problems."
I suggest renting for at least the first 24 hour year as a PPL. You won''t be allowed to fly if not current, and you'll have weather restrictions. And you'll be restricted in the types of aircraft you fly.
I rented for over two years before buying the tailwheel share I've owned for 29 years.

I really wish, in hindsight, I'd done this. Though the group members were great, and I learnt a lot, I think there's a greater chance I'd not be one of the many 'used to fly' pilots out there now if I'd done just that.