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The climb to 11,450 feet, which beat the existing record by 950 feet, occupied 45 minutes, and the gliding descent was accomplished in a fifth of that time. Harry would have been able to go higher had he not experienced difficulty in maintaining a good mixture, a circumstance which culminated in the carburetter freezing and rendered a descent imperative. On landing he was received with hearty acclamation and congratulations. With the winning of the previous altitude contest at Hendon and the Whit-Monday handicap at Brooklands, this flight constituted the third important success of the particular machine used, and Mr. Sopwith was congratulated on having such a first-class pilot as Harry Hawker to demonstrate the wonderful and surprising capabilities of the new Sopwith products.

Harry’s height record of May 31st inspired “The Dreamer” to contribute to Flight the following, published on June 14th:

“Bravo, Hawker!

“I wish I could have been at Brooklands to have seen your smiling face when you came down from your lofty position. Your face always does me good when I gaze upon it. I suppose you sometimes feel a bit glum, like the rest of us, but I have never happened to be there to see it; and this time I am sure it would have acted as a tonic, as I am just a bit run down at the moment.