 In spite of his relative youth, his flying skills impressed Horace Short, who soon offered him a permanent position as assistant to Ronald Kemp.He became Chief Test Pilot for Short Brothers in 1918 as successor to Ronald Kemp.Between 1918 and his last official flight as Chief Test Pilot on 22 August 1945 he flew every Shorts prototype on its maiden flight, ranging from the diminutive Short Satellite (640 lb (290 kg)) to the very large Short Shetland (75,860 lb (34,410 kg)).