HM Queen Suthida completed her first solo flight in a JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet at Wing 7 of the Royal Thai Air Force in Phun Phin district, Surat Thani, yesterday, under the watch of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Before the flight, the Queen received a briefing on her flight plan and personally inspected the single-seat Gripen aircraft before taxiing to the runway for take-off.
The King watched the aircraft take off and land. After the Queen completed the flight and disembarked, he presented her with a bouquet of flowers and pinned a gold “Gripen Order” patch on her uniform in recognition of her achievement.
The patch is an honorary insignia awarded to pilots who have flown the JAS 39 Gripen. The Queen’s solo flight marked a significant milestone in her aviation training.
In preparation for the flight, the Queen underwent training in accordance with Royal Thai Air Force standards. She stayed in Surat Thani for two training periods, from August 20 to September 4 and from September 25 to October 8, practising on a Gripen flight simulator under the close supervision and guidance of aviation specialists.
Before flying solo, she had accumulated 10.13 flight hours in the two-seat JAS 39D Gripen.
According to the royal household, the Queen has logged a total of 1,188.48 flight hours across various aircraft types.
She has also served as co-pilot alongside the King on royal flights for engagements in Thailand and abroad.
During the royal couple’s official visit to Bhutan, the King served as pilot-in-command while the Queen acted as co-pilot. They took off and landed safely at Paro International Airport, which is known for its challenging terrain and demanding approach procedures.
Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defence company that manufactures the Gripen fighter jet, congratulated the Queen on what it described as a historic flight.
The company said the achievement had been planned and executed with skill and precision by the Queen and the Royal Thai Air Force. It added that it was honoured to be a long-term partner with Thailand in defence and security.
