 In 1927 , Pentland formed Mandated Territory Airways with entrepreneur Albert Royal to fly freight to and from the goldfields of New Guinea . The pair bought a DH.60 Moth biplane , which Pentland ferried to the firm 's base at Lae in February 1928 . The business prospered in the short term , to the extent that the partners took on another Moth and more pilots . By the end of the year , however , Pentland was suffering from malaria and had to abandon the venture , selling one of the planes to Guinea Airways and returning to Australia with the other . After recovering in the new year , he embarked on a series of new enterprises , including aircraft manufacture , a flying school , and charter work . In February 1929 , he formed the General Aircraft Company with Royal and another partner to produce an Australian @-@ designed aeroplane , the Genairco , of which eight were eventually sold . With the Moth from Mandated Territory Airways , he established Pentland 's Flying School at Mascot , New South Wales . He also flew charters with a Moth owned by The Sun newspaper , using the same aircraft that September to compete in the East @-@ West Air Race from Sydney to Perth , as part of the celebrations for the Western Australia Centenary . The event attracted several veteran aviators of World War I , including Horrie Miller — the eventual winner on handicap — and Charles " Moth " Eaton , whom Pentland beat into fifth place across the line . 
