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Imagine flying through the air, exposed to the harsh Australian elements for 1600 kilometres, from the country's lowest point to its highest point.
And you're doing it with a two-stroke engine on your back.
That is the feat achieved by one group of daredevil Australians, who have soared from Lake Eyre to the highest point of the snow-capped crest of Mt Kosciuszko.
The paramotor pilots, aged between 23 and 62, are members of the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA) and completed the Australian-first journey over a two-week period last fortnight.
It was the longest paramotor climb in the country, with the group braving wild weather and thermal gusts and reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour.
"No one has taken up the challenge to fly this type of aircraft from the lowest point to the highest," pilot and instructor Andrew Polidano said.
"I think we were all crazy enough to go along with the idea that we should do something that no one has ever done."
Each pilot used flying backpack motorised fan aircrafts, known as powered paragliders.
The pilots were exposed to extreme elements of both the South Australian outback and Australia's highest peak, spending a total of 18 hours in the air, equipped with the engine on their back, as well as a reserve parachute.
Australian views were 'absolutely spectacular'
Mr Polidano, of Ballina, said the group saw some of the most incredible views that the Australian outback had to offer along the journey.
From the Flinders Ranges to the Snowy Mountains, he described some of his experiences as "breathtaking".
"We flew over some indescribably beautiful and remote country, slept under the outback stars and accomplished something that hasn't been done before," he said.
"We had an opportunity to get up and go for a fly…along the Flinders Ranges and it was absolutely spectacular.
"The way the light was hitting the Flinders that evening, it was breathtaking.
"The other standout would have to be the flight we did from Khancoban, on the western side of the Snowy Mountains.
"That place is exceptionally picturesque — snow-capped mountains, beautiful scenery and quite a contrast to the desert type of country that we were flying in only days before."
Promoting the sport of paramotoring
The Australian-first achievement allowed the group to take a bird's-eye view of Australia's spectacular country, all while promoting a sport that the group was passionate about.
"It took us eight months to prepare, as we had to do everything in our power to minimise risks and potential dangers of wild weather — including the dusty thermals over the remote areas of South Australia and snow and icy blasts on the top of Mt Kosciuszko," Mr Polidano said.
"Starting our trip in Lake Eyre last month, we hit some challenges along the way, like unexpected strong winds and turbulence in the Flinders Ranges that forced us out of the sky.
"To achieve the flight up to Mt Kosciuszko, we required a strategic take-off and several attempts due to the turbulence associated with the upper winds, which were exceeding 100 kilometres an hour.
"We were able to promote our sport of paramotoring by demonstrating the incredible capabilities of our tiny aircraft. We hope we have inspired other paramotor pilots to extend their horizons."
Already planning another high-speed challenge
Mr Polidano was joined by fellow instructor Justin Shaw (of Bendigo) and pilots Peter Evans (of Canberra), Peter Forbes (of Bendigo), Brendan Tracey (of Whittlesea), Christopher Farney (of Kilmore) and driver Carl Norton (of Longwood, Victoria.)
While one of the most challenging experiences of his life, Mr Polidano said it had already inspired the group to take on more challenges.
"Five guys living together, camping on the side of the road in swags, I didn't have a shower for 10 days, we weren't chasing comfort, we were chasing conditions," he said.
"We got to know each other quite well, the group became quite bonded during that period.
"It definitely has [inspired us], just knowing what we can achieve in this trip has sort of made us think about doing some other trips."
Topics: human-interest, air-transport, air-and-space, sa, khancoban-2642, nsw