Hawker Hart K2109 of “A” Flight, 11 (B) Sqn, flown by Flt Lt Tony Tinker. In the back seat, with his forearms on the Scarff ring, is AC Kerr using the pilot's head to shield him from the slipstream. The mountains on the horizon are the Hindu Kush; their tops are around 18,000ft.

Flt Lt Tinker in loose formation as the flight climbs to clear the pass by several thousand feet.

Safely down on the Drosh landing ground. The snowline on the mountains in the background is around 8-9,000ft ASL.

The Shuttleworth Trusts's recently restored Afghan Hawker Hind.

Vickers Valentias of 31 (BT) Sqn from Lahore at Drosh, photographed from the edge of the landing ground. Note the cloud of dust behind the middle aircraft as it trundles in. Valentias accommodated 22 troops and a crew of two and although used primarily as troop-carriers they could be fitted with bomb racks to carry’ a total bomb load of 2,200lb.