The most awesome plane photos you'll ever see

SO THIS is what plane spotters hang out for. These unbelievable mile-high snaps were taken by some of the world's best aviation photographers and give a unique glimpse into life in the skies.

An Embraer ERJ190 and the larger Boeing 777 appear to be one at Amsterdam. Picture: AirTeamImages

SO THIS is what the plane spotters hang out for.

These unbelievable mile-high snaps have been released by aviation photographers AirTeamImages to celebrate its 10th birthday, and they provide a unique glimpse into life in the skies.

From hundreds of birds surrounding a Boeing 777 at Heathrow Airport, to a Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet visibly breaking the sounds barrier above San Francisco, these remarkable mile-high moments are usually never witnessed by passengers.

Other highlights include the look on a pilot's face as his small plane turns upside down, a jumbo jet swooping low over sunbathers, and a view of lightning from the cockpit of a Jetstar plane.

Lightning strikes a Jetstar plane. Picture: AirTeamImages

The Red Arrows put on a patriotic show at Fairford, UK. Picture: AirTeamImages

US Airways Boeing 757 flies over the heads of sunseekers at St Maarten. Picture: AirTeamImages

AirTeamImages was established in 2003 by the world renowned aviation photographer Derek Pedley.

"We are the largest supplier of aviation images in the world," he said. "We have 200 photographers which I have hand-picked and we have a portfolio of images that tell the whole history of aviation right back to the 1900s."

A Boeing 747 cuts through the heart-shaped clouds at Paris - the City of Love. Picture: Ai...

Pedley's love of planes began when he was a child.

"I have a real fascination with planes, which was probably kickstarted by me growing up next to Birmingham Airport," he said.

"I would go with my friends and play football behind the fences which ran alongside the runways. When photography came along it helped to keep the interest going, and here I am today."

All the colours of a rainbow - created from the aircraft's emissions. Pic...

The pilot of this Aviat Christien Eagle II hangs on in Argentina. Picture: AirTeamImages

An Embraer ERJ190 and the larger Boeing 777 appear to be one at Amsterdam. Picture: AirTeamImages

A British Airways Airbus A319 flies to the moon and back. Picture: AirTeamImages

A Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777 in the fog at Oslo, Norway. Picture: AirTeamImages

Blink and you won't miss this distinctive tailfin of a Boeing 777. Picture: AirT...

Arbus planes come into land at Heathrow Airport. Picture: AirTeamImages

A KLM Airlines 747 plane. Picture: AirTeamImages

Up close. Picture: AirTeamImages

The most awesome plane photos you'll...

It's the aircraft in the background that gets the most attention! Picture: AirT...

A Qantas plane takes off. Picture: AirTeamImages

A Boeing 747 lands at Amsterdam. Picture: AirTeamImages

See more incredible aviation photography at AirTeamImages.com.