The view from VERY far above: Incredible pictures taken from the cockpit of a jumbo jet show the Earth as you’ve never seen it before, from Manhattan to Dubai

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Forget bird’s-eye views – try these plane-ly incredible jumbo-jet flight deck views instead.

They were taken by Dutch 747-400 captain Christiaan Van Heijst, who has rightly earned a reputation for breathtaking cockpit images.

His aerial pictures have landed him multiple awards and 147,000 Instagram followers.

Christiaan said: ‘With my first job as a pilot in 2004, I was flying turboprops around Africa and Afghanistan, and I was acutely aware that I was seeing things and sights that were unique, so I had a strong motivation to document them all.

‘I started taking pictures with a simple camera and as my flying career progressed, so did my photography.’

Scroll down for Christiaan’s latest scintillating shots, taken above locations that include Manhattan, Dubai, China and the remote Sable Island.

Contrails above the clouds: A stunning image of an aircraft hurtling past below Christiaan’s 747

A mesmerising image of Cape Verde - an African island country in the Atlantic Ocean

A mesmerising image of Cape Verde – an African island country in the Atlantic Ocean

Hue goes there: A jaw-dropping picture of an aurora. Christiaan said that capturing auroras through the cockpit took a lot of 'trial and error'

Hue goes there: A jaw-dropping picture of an aurora. Christiaan said that capturing auroras through the cockpit took a lot of ‘trial and error’

Christiaan has completed over 10,000 flying hours on various airplane types. Above - the mountains of Armenia

Christiaan has completed over 10,000 flying hours on various airplane types. Above – the mountains of Armenia

Manhattan looks like a toy town in this incredible shot taken from the skies above it

Manhattan looks like a toy town in this incredible shot taken from the skies above it

Christiaan reveals that he's flown  roughly 8.6million kilometres, or 5.4 million miles - 'give or take a few'

Christiaan reveals that he’s flown  roughly 8.6million kilometres, or 5.4 million miles – ‘give or take a few’

Way to glow: The heavenly image above shows moonlight over the Pacific Ocean

Way to glow: The heavenly image above shows moonlight over the Pacific Ocean

Peaky blinder: The Himalayas look like a painting in this hypnotic picture

Peaky blinder: The Himalayas look like a painting in this hypnotic picture

Here, the vast Gobi Desert stretches out beneath Christiaan's jumbo jet

Here, the vast Gobi Desert stretches out beneath Christiaan’s jumbo jet

A striking mountain range in China. Christiaan estimates that he has flown 17 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon

A striking mountain range in China. Christiaan estimates that he has flown 17 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon

Christiaan said: 'With my first job as a pilot in 2004, I was flying turboprops around Africa and Afghanistan and I was acutely aware that I was seeing things and sights that are unique, so I had strong motivation to document it all'

Dubai's two Palm islands

Christiaan said: ‘With my first job as a pilot in 2004, I was flying turboprops around Africa and Afghanistan and I was acutely aware that I was seeing things and sights that are unique, so I had strong motivation to document it all.’ Pictured right – Dubai’s two Palm islands

Pictures like this have helped to earn Christiaan 147,000 Instagram followers

Pictures like this have helped to earn Christiaan 147,000 Instagram followers 

Christiaan here captures his 'office' - the cockpit of a Boeing 747-400

Christiaan here captures his ‘office’ – the cockpit of a Boeing 747-400

This arresting picture captures Canada's Sable Island, where around 350 shipwrecks lie

This arresting picture captures Canada’s Sable Island, where around 350 shipwrecks lie

Colour us impressed: An astonishing aurora captured by Christiaan over Germany

Colour us impressed: An astonishing aurora captured by Christiaan over Germany

For more incredible photography and videos, see Christaan’s Instagram: @jpcvanheijst. 



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