World
Thailand's Queen Suthida completes first solo Gripen fighter flight
October 9, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Queen Suthida piloted a Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter solo for 41 minutes on October 8, the first such solo flight by a Thai woman.
- Queen Suthida flew a single-seat JAS 39C Gripen solo for 41 minutes from the 7th Wing air base in Surat Thani, southern Thailand, on Thursday.
- King Maha Vajiralongkorn observed the takeoff and landing and, after touchdown, presented Suthida with flowers and a gold Gripen Order badge.
- The royal court stated that Suthida is the first Thai woman to pilot this Gripen type solo.
- The solo flight followed months of training, including 45 academic subjects, 20 simulator sessions, and about ten hours on the two-seat JAS 39D with an instructor.