In brief
On 8 October, Thailand's Queen Suthida made her first solo flight aboard a Gripen fighter jet at Surat Thani airfield, watched by King Maha Vajiralongkorn. With over 1,188 flight hours across multiple aircraft since 2010, the queen has proven her aviation prowess and formerly co-piloted aircraft carrying the king on official visits. The Royal Household highlighted the event as a milestone for royal flight training and national pride.
On 8 October, Thailand’s Queen Suthida stepped into a Gripen fighter jet for her first solo flight, an event that drew the attention of the entire nation and the royal family. The landing strip in Surat Thani province served as the backdrop for this historic moment, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn on the ground watching the queen’s maiden solo run.
A Pilot With Over a Thousand Hours of Experience
According to the Thai Royal Household, the queen has accumulated approximately 1,188 flight hours across a variety of aircraft since she began training in 2010. Her flight record spans training jets, military transports, and international passenger planes, underscoring her broad aviation competence.
Co-Pilot on Diplomatic Missions
Beyond solo missions, Suthida has co-piloted aircraft that carried the king on several official visits abroad. These missions have honed her skills in long-haul, high‑pressure flight situations, making the transition to a high‑performance fighter jet a natural progression.
The Wolverine winged Gripen, a multirole light fighter, is among the most advanced aircraft in the Thai air force’s fleet. The queen’s successful navigation of its high‑tech cockpit and complex systems demonstrates the Royal Household’s confidence in her abilities and signals Thailand’s ongoing investment in modernizing its aerial capabilities.
This milestone also carries symbolic weight for the Thai monarchy, reinforcing a message of innovation and progress. The event was widely covered on social media, with fans and officials lauding the queen’s commitment to public duty and personal advancement.
