A blonde bombshell pilot has shot to Instagram fame after documenting her jet set lifestyle and the glamorous side of working in aviation.

Maria Pettersson who works for budget airline Ryainair, has amassed more than 128,000 followers on the social networking site, sharing images of herself at work operating the controls in preparation for take-off, sitting inside an engine turbine or hanging out of a cockpit window for a selfie.

The 32-year-old Swedish beauty also shares her images of her life outside of her aircraft "office" showing off impossible yoga moves against breathtaking backdrops or displaying her super toned shape in tiny bikinis while paddleboarding.

Maria, from Gothenburg in Sweden but now living in Palermo in Sicily, Italy said she started the flight deck selfies to let her friends and family see her everyday life at work after becoming a pilot at 25.

She said: "I loved the positive feedback I was getting and all the curious questions from young aviators asking about how to become a pilot or flight simulator pilots asking about a specific procedure." And speaking about carving a successful career in a male-dominated environment she said: "My story is about strong females in a male dominated environment. Proving that we are just as good as them. Believing in ourselves and keeping a positive attitude towards life."

Speaking about her jobs Maria tells Mailonline: "My lifestyle is actually similar to a 9 to 5 job. Our roster is a five days on four days off pattern and we operate from our home base so I get to sleep in my own bed every night. Always having four days off after five working days is amazing. It gives me more than enough time to rest and spend time with family and friends."

And although she travels the world for work she still enjoys exploring new destinations in her free time too. "I try to travel as much as I can during my off days and this summer I have already seen places like Berlin, London and Stockholm. When I travel on my own holidays I like to visit places with paradise beaches and adventures."

Maria, who is currently single, became a commercial pilot aged 30 and regularly flies a Boeing 737 which can hold almost 200 passengers, has a wingspan of 111 feet and ranges from 102 feet to 138 feet in length but the lithe beauty is not fazed by this mighty machine.