What are /r/FlightTraining's favorite Products & Services?

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The average time to get a PPL is around 55-65 hours. Most of the extra time occurs in the beginning, not the end. The cockpit isn't a very good place to learn basics due to distractions and the difficulty to focus on specific procedures. By using a procedure trainer (Flight sim + joystick) in the beginning, I've found that you can knock about 10 hours off the flight time of the PPL.

This assumes that once you start learning, you don't take any extended breaks. When you break for a month or two, it usually adds another few hours each time to get back into the swing of things.

I suggest something like this or similar: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-3D-Pro-Joystick-Windows/dp/B00009OY9U/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Saitek+joystick&sr=8-4

You want programmable buttons to use for flaps, the ability to control rudder and brakes, and a "throttle" control (usually just a little dial). You for sure do not need the yoke / power levers / rudder pedals setup for doing procedures in the beginning.

Consider that when you begin flying ... most of what you are learning to do is multi-tasking. Most people's brains get overwhelmed with the information they need to keep track of & manage (radios, flight instruments, controls, patterns, situational awareness, etc). By learning these things piece by piece, you can build up your ability to manage tasks simultaneously. This is what saves you time in the plane. By the time you're in the air, you know where to look, how to control your aircraft through common procedures, how to navigate, and how to get in & out of the pattern. This makes the time in the aircraft much more productive and saves you a ton of money.