I'd like to get a feel for what there is for instructors in the Polson, Missoula and also maybe Kalispell area.

I've asked a local pilot here in Plains if he knew of any and he said Polson and Missoula.
I also asked if there are any tailwheel instructors he knew of and he said there's one in Ronan
(south of Polson) and I checked the website of Northstar Jet in Missoula and they have 2 tailwheel
endorsed CFI's listed on the website.

I'm wanting to know what there is so I can figure out what my options are.

Is Cut Bank too far? Rick is a great guy. And has legit experience.
http://www.montanabyair.com/index.html

There is a fellow in Helena who I would highly recommend, and does tailwheel. Shoot me a PM if you can't find what you're looking for in the Missoula/Flathead area.

Perry Brown in Columbia Falls, MT!! Highly recommended, lots of tail wheel time, lots of back country, helicopter, great guy and a superb and dedicated instructor!! I'll PM you his contact info.
John

UtahMaule, Cut bank would be too far for me, more driving than I'd like.

SamIntel, Thanks for the offer.

John, Thanks I'll hold on to his phone #.

I'm not likely to start training at this point in time, but finding out what's out there helps a lot.

ExperimentalAviator wrote:.....I checked the website of Northstar Jet in Missoula and they have 2 tailwheel
endorsed CFI's listed on the website.....

Those 2 guys might be great taildragger instructors, who knows, but "tailwheel endorsed CFI's" does not impress me. All a CFI needs to legally give dual instruction in a taildragger is a tailwheel endorsement....but that doesn't make him a tailwheel instructor in my book. An FBO having the word "jet" in their name is also a bit of a red flag to me, as a piston-powered GA guy.

That's the reason I typed "endorsed".

Update, the name of the instructor in Ronan is Monte Baer.

Leigh Smith is wherever you need him to be. Leigh is the real deal, an amazing instructor with a unique style.

I had previously flown with Leigh and just recently had the opportunity to receive tail wheel training with him here in the BItterroot Valley. It was an amazing experience.
There were three of us locally he worked with and we all were extremely satisfied.

Leigh is a great asset for the Backcountry community and flying in general. His energy and enthusiasm for flying is unmatched.

Check out his website. I know he will be in Western Montana and Idaho in the coming weeks, and is out this way more and more frequently.
Www.techflying.com

Richard

Does he do basic flight training?

Leigh's program is geared more towards teaching energy management as well as short field / backcountry operations.

I think most of it is done in a day or two, helping a pilot get the most out of their airplane and helping overcome any bad habits picked up along the way.

He will get back to the basics in the sense that for the most part your instruments will be covered at first to help you develop a feel for the airplane. I know he can get you squared away in a taildragger pretty quickly.

Richard

What i'm looking for is a instructor to go from student to certified. If that clears things up.