Anyone here have experience or live around Glacier National Park?

I ask because I have a job opportunity there with the National Park Service. I am going to start flight training soon, but if I get the job, I will have to fly around that area since tha's where I'll be working.

How's the flying there? I was thinking of buying a 90hp J3 Cub...is that practical?

The guy that organized last years Maule fly in in Valier Mt. flies around there. His first name is Rick Geiger, I think. Pretty sure you could find out his contact info on the Maule site here http://www.maulepilots.org/2007MauleFlyIn/
There is a picture of his Maule with a tail number on it. The N number will yield contact info.

I live to the southeast of Glacier in Great Falls. My wife and I go on a hiking vacation there every summer, and we have talked many times about flying aroung the park, but haven't yet. It's pretty rugged. I do know that there has been a lot of contention over the years about the helicopter tours disturbing the experience of those on the ground, but not sure if any flying restrictions have been imposed.

The Maule pilot in Valier who a64pilot mentioned is closer to Glacier than I am and would probably be a good resource for you.

That area is a great place to fly!

I received my tailwheel endorsement in the Flathead Valley, as a matter of fact. There are grass strips all over the place, some private, most public.

A J3 cub would be very practical for the area, as much as it would be practical for any area I suppose.

Red Eagle Aviation at Kalispell City Airport (S27) does flight instruction including tailwheel and helicopter too.

I love the area so much I've targeted it for my retirement, if I can still afford to live there by then I visit about twice a year.

Let me know if there are specific questions about the park or the area.

I spent a year at Duck Lake doing biological surveys for a proposed wind project.....man is there wind at the foothills of those mountains on the East side. In Browning they have literally blown trains off the track. Fishing was spectacular....when the wind allowed you to get out of the car. Ralph

I live on the West end (ok...about 40 miles from the west end) and you'd have a blast flying here. If you get it, let me know and I'll put you in touch with a great guy that's been flying in the area here for years.
John

Thanks guys.
I will keep you all posted! I have 0 flight hours...but going to do the training soon. Just need to wait and see whether I get this job or not. It's seasonal, but my goal is to get the full time position that I really want with the NPS. I gotta start somewhere, so this is hopefully going to be a good start. Of course, it all depends on whether I get the job. It's very competitive to work for the NPS in a graphics/multimedia capacity, even though the pay is nothing to be excited about. But we work for the NPS for passion and having Glacier or Yellowstone in your own back yard. My target was working for Yellowstone, but so far the only opening is with Glacier.

If you are going to be living on the east side I am located in Cut Bank. I do instruction out of CTB. If you want to see a few pictures of the area take a look at my web site - www.montanabyair.com

Rick Geiger

I have no idea where I'd be living if I get the job...

Some people get lucky and get to live in the park, but we'll see what happens.

Thanks for the website link, i've filed it for when the time comes to grace the blue yonder!

How's the flying there? I was thinking of buying a 90hp J3 Cub...is that practical?

I flew once in a J3 cub...some of the most fun I've ever had in the air. Even got a pin for doing the second most spins that particular J3 instructor had ever had a student do (and ya, it was on purpose).

But for most uses, a J3 cub is about as practical as a Model T Ford. Cool, fun, classy, and a complete pain in the ass to do anything with other than fly slowly around the block on Sunday afternoon when the weather is perfect.

I'm pretty sure you want to buy my Cessna 140. Seriously though, I think you'll have a lot of difficulty getting a private license in a J3. I haven't seen many J3's that you can do the night flying, or the simulated instrument flying in...both required for your license. I'm not saying it's right, but I really don't see how you can get a license in an aircraft that doesn't have an electrical system, radios, position lights, etc..

Again, I think J3 Cubs are just cool as hell, but if you're looking to buy an airplane in which you can both get your license in AND be able to do more than fly a 100 mile radius from your home field, I've got a much better plane for you. (And yes, I'm trying to sell a plane...a great plane.) But even if I wasn't, I'd still advise you to look long and hard before buying a J3 to get your license in. There's no point at all in buying a plane you can't get your license in...own a plane AND rent a plane? Do one or the other...not both.

Yep, Hammer, trust me, I've been thinking along those same lines.

The cub is really a luxury. But, send me the info about the 140.

You know as soon as one of the Cub guy's read this, there will be hell to pay

You know as soon as one of the Cub guy's read this, there will be hell to pay

Good! This site was getting a little dull!

Hammer does have a good point though. I learned in a Luscombe 8A I bought and sure enough, when it came time to finish up I had to rent a Cherokee 140 for the night flying and instrument training. Of course I ended up being able to fly both a tail and nose wheel.

Update: Now it looks like I may be at Yellowstone, not Glacier. So, what's the flying like out there?

TexasNick wrote:Update: Now it looks like I may be at Yellowstone, not Glacier. So, what's the flying like out there?

Pretty much the same. Live in Wyoming if you can, no state taxes.

Both areas mean a bit of distance between fuel stops. Both areas have the potential for some serious wind and rapidly changing weather. Both areas require some relatively high altitude operations. All in all, I'd say both areas suck for flight training unless you can fly early in the morning on any given day.

In any event, you'll be doing good to find a flight school within driving distance of either park...I wouldn't worry too much about local flying conditions for quite a while yet.

Flight training in the Yellowstone area means driving to Bozeman or Cody for lessons. But, most people drive to Bozeman or Cody (or Jackson Hole I suppose) for groceries and shopping anyway.

In Yellowstone area, call Duane Hodgkinson, up by Emigrant. He's got a 172, a private strip right near Chico Hot Springs.

Doesn't get any better. It's the Flying Y airport. Unfortunately for sale, and will probably not be an airport if a new owner buys it.

MTV

Hammer wrote: All in all, I'd say both areas suck for flight training unless you can fly early in the morning on any given day.

Having learned here and flown all over the this state (although not directly over either of the Parks), I'd have to disagree with you Hammer. The flying conditions here are good much of the time and awesome a lot of the time.