When in MN about '60, I sought out Max Conrad, paying him for a dozen hours of remedial instruction. By that time, I was 17 with well over 1500 hours or more then, from gliders, dusters, seaplanes and heavy twins, flying anything that I could, including nearby Harlingen warbirds. (I lived in San Antonio)
Max Conrad - Wikipedia - only tip of his accomplishments. Even more significant perhaps than his solo distance flight records are the 45,000 hours he had in the air, and the 3000 students he took to license.
Some of best money I'd ever spent, and would do it again, if possible, since having survived 200+ Navy fighter night traps, and upwards of 18,000 hours, including Lears and bizjets.