I am a 16 year old who loves aviation, and has since I was given a model of a 737 when I was two years old. My first ride that wasn't a commercial jet was in a Stinson when I was 7. It was a blast and I knew from that point on that I would want to be a pilot as a profession. From when I was 7 to when I was 13ish...I flew a lot with him, and I still do now, in a Maule M5. When I was 14, I went to california to visit my great uncle, who is a charter pilot in a Beechcraft Kingair 200. He flies the owner of Sierra Nevada brewery to his vacation home in Montana a lot. So, him being a pilot, I had to get a ride. We went up, and he handed me the controls right after we rotated. I had over 400 hours on Microsoft Flight Simulator at the time and had flown in the Stinson a lot, so I was comfortable, and it was FAST.
I flew around Chico, and then assumed he was going to take it to land. But I realized I was on approach for the runway. He asked me to put in flaps or we'd have to go around! 
So I took the oppurtunity, made sure I was on glide slope with the PAPIs and landed. That was a confidence booster! When July of last summer came up, I was anxious to go to Arlington. I had flown into the airshow there before in the Stinson and loved the experience. When I was there, I flew my R/C planes at the field they had set up. That night, I was offered a ride in a Sting Sport. I went up with Grant Smith, a great CFI from Seattle, and did 2 successfull touch and gos by myself, and from all my experience on Boston Virtual ATC (an online server on FSX for realistic ATC flying and unicom) (www.bostonvirtualatc.com), I also did most of the communications. I felt like I was seriously ready to take lessons and get this done, and take the Sport Pilot route, after talking to Grant while flying about it. The next morning I woke up early...so I had another oppurtunity to go up, this time in a PPC. I was very scared after hearing the stories about wing collapses...but I was ready. This was with Mark Martin, a local CFI with seattle power chutes. It was a great ride. He explained how I could save a lot of money learning in them, and then switch to fixed wing after getting a sport license in PPCs, and just get a sign off seperately. So I took up the offer. I started lessons the next weekend. Wow. Arlington looks a LOT different without the airshow going on! I took lessons for the next couple weeks and was flying PIC after 2.5 hours. The next week, I went back, took off, flew a few touch and gos with the instructor back seat, exclaiming, "perfect!" after each one. Thats an awesome feeling! He told me to land. After we landed he told me to set up the chute, so I did, and he came back with a radio. I just thought maybe the current one was dying...no big deal. Then he said, "you ready to go up again?" I was standing by the PPC and said, "Sure, you get in first", because typically the back seat needs to be in first for leg room. But he simply replied, "Nope." 
I knew what was happening. Was I ready? Is he crazy? But I hopped in, ready to go. I put on my GoPro helmet, and was quite nervous. He had a radio, not as a backup of course, but to talk to me from the ground. So, I started the engine, and took off. Freedom. I remember right after taking off seeing a small bird fly by me...and it made me realize that I was now as free as that bird too. It was a great feeling. I did a perfect first touch and go...and flew for a half hour. I landed, and got a handshake and was congratulated by others present. I now knew I was almost there. Since then, in early August, I have gotten a total of 10 hours, and will be doing my written and practical in December on my 17th birthday. I will be ready immediately after to get soloed fixed wing...and will be flying a LOT when I do, in PPCs also. A few weeks ago I went flying in a SportStar at Renton, a towered airport. I was sitting right seat since it was a rental, but the pilot told me he would've let me sit PIC. We started up, and I ended up doing all the comms, and it was a breeze after learning how the past few years on FSX and FS9. We flew to jefferson county and back, and I had a great landing...it was a little shallow approach, but it went well. I felt like I wanted to go up in fixed wing and get that solo right then too...but I knew i'd have to wait, and itd be worthwhile. So, to sum it all up, I am proud to be a member on this forum and look forward to talking to other pilots here, and especially get my license...only two more months to go!
Zach