Posted on Wednesday 28 September 2011

Parajet will be supporting two intrepid pilots when they take to the Australian skies this February in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest continuous flight by a powered paraglider.

48-year-old adventurer Mark Jennings-Bates was anxious for an adventure to create awareness about his favourite cause, Rally4Life, as he prepares to become the first Canadian to complete the gruelling Dakar rally next year. So, to generate momentum and prepare both physically and mentally, he鈥檚 teamed with fellow Canadian Glenn Derouin in an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by circumnavigating the coast of Australia.

The Flight4Life Expedition aims to raise 4 million dollars for charities to help in areas such as Africa and Central America, especially addressing issues surrounding clean drinking water, through the Rally4Life umbrella, the charity founded by Mark and his wife Jackie.

Preparations are well underway for what promises to be a test of both man and machine. The pair will fly about seven hours per day, usually before dawn and at dusk to avoid the hottest conditions. The pair have allotted three months in which to complete this audacious journey.

The feat has already generated tremendous attention, and Jennings-Bates was asked recently to join Friends of Australia, a group of about 80 influential artists, athletes, business leaders and entrepreneurs asked by Tourism Australia to promote Down Under. Among the notable members are Sir Richard Branson, Lance Armstrong, chef Curtis Stone and film director Baz Luhrmann. Discussions are also currently underway to film Flight4Life for television.