On 8 October 2026, Queen Suthida of Thailand took to the air alone in the cockpit of a single-seat Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter. The flight lasted 41 minute and took place at the Royal Thai Air Force's Wing 7 base in Surat Thani Province.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn personally watched the preparations and the takeoff from the ground. Before the flight, the Queen received a briefing on the flight plan, inspected the aircraft and taxied to runway 22.
After landing, the King presented her with a bouquet of flowers and pinned to her sleeve the golden Gripen Order Golden Patch — a mark of honorary membership in the Swedish aviation association. This made her the first female Gripen pilot in Thailand and the first reigning queen to make a solo flight in a fighter jet.
The preparation took several months. The Queen studied 45 theoretical topics, completed 20 simulator sessions and logged more than 10 hours with an instructor in a two-seat JAS 39D. Suthida's total flight time exceeds 1188 hours on various types of aircraft, including the Boeing 737.
What lies behind this step by the Queen, who has flown for many years as a co-pilot on royal flights? Her path from a Cessna in 2010 to a combat fighter jet shows a consistent expansion of her aviation skills.
The event highlights the royal family's personal interest in military aviation and the modern capabilities of the Royal Thai Air Force, which operates Swedish Gripens.
