From Boeing jets to a supersonic fighter: Queen Suthida flies a Gripen solo for 41 minutes as King Vajiralongkorn watches. Thailand’s first female Gripen pilot completes months of military training before receiving a striking Swedish aviation honour.
Queen Suthida made aviation history Thursday, flying a Swedish-built Gripen fighter jet solo for 41 minutes as King Maha Vajiralongkorn watched. Thailand’s first female Gripen pilot completed four months of intensive military training, including 45 technical subjects and 20 simulator sorties. Afterwards, the King personally awarded her the prestigious Gripen Order Golden Patch, marking her admission to a Swedish aviation association. The Queen’s achievement follows 16 years of flying experience, including Boeing 737 jets and challenging international flights alongside the King. Meanwhile, Thailand is expanding its fighter fleet with four next-generation Gripens on order from Sweden.
Queen Suthida completed her first solo flight in a Swedish-built Gripen fighter jet on Thursday, October 8. King Maha Vajiralongkorn personally witnessed the 41-minute flight at Wing 7 in Surat Thani province.
Afterwards, he presented the Queen with flowers and a gold-embroidered Swedish aviation honour. The flight followed four months of specialist military training, including 20 simulator sorties and supervised flights. According to the Bureau of the Royal Household, she became Thailand’s first female Gripen pilot. The achievement added a frontline combat aircraft to her extensive aviation record.
The Queen flew the single-seat Saab JAS 39C Gripen, operated by the Royal Thai Air Force’s Squadron 701. Crucially, the aircraft has no second cockpit for an instructor. She therefore completed the planned training flight alone, following preparation aboard the two-seat JAS 39D.
King watches Queen Suthida’s solo Gripen flight before presenting a golden Swedish aviation honour
The King watched her depart from Runway 22 before returning safely to the southern airbase. Following the landing, he personally attached the Gripen Order Golden Patch to her left sleeve.
The gold-embroidered insignia is associated with the Gripen Order, an honorary Swedish aviation organisation. According to aviation publication AeroTime, the Queen was accepted as a full member following Thursday’s flight.
The recognition followed her completion of the fighter conversion programme under Royal Thai Air Force procedures. Meanwhile, the Royal Household confirmed that the King had witnessed both take-off and landing. The occasion concluded with the royal couple returning to Bangkok aboard a royal aircraft.
King Vajiralongkorn arrived at Wing 7 in Phun Phin district at 10.06 am on Thursday. His private visit centred on the Queen’s first solo flight in the Swedish-built fighter. Queen Suthida received him alongside senior Royal Thai Air Force officers. Those present included Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kantha, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force. Wing 7 Commander Group Captain Pasin Sombattawee also attended, together with other senior military personnel.
King attends flight briefing as Queen Suthida prepares her single-seat Gripen for a historic solo sortie
The royal couple proceeded to a building used for royal duties at the airbase. There, officers briefed them on the Queen’s planned flight and its preparations. Subsequently, the King accompanied her to the aircraft shelter housing the single-seat Gripen.
He watched as she inspected the fighter before entering the cockpit. The Queen then completed the necessary pre-flight procedures and prepared the aircraft for departure. After taxiing towards Runway 22, she positioned the jet for take-off.
The Queen departed alone, following the flight plan established for her final training exercise. Throughout the operation, the King remained at the airbase to observe the flight. The fighter subsequently returned after 41 minutes, landing safely at Wing 7.
The sortie completed her transition from supervised training aboard the two-seat Gripen to independent operation of the JAS 39C. It also marked her first solo flight in the aircraft designated Fighter-Attack Type 20 by the Royal Thai Air Force.
Following the landing, Queen Suthida climbed down from the fighter. The King approached and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. He then presented the Gripen Order Golden Patch and personally attached the insignia to her uniform.
The honour recognised her successful flight and membership of the Swedish honorary aviation association. Notably, it was not identified as a Thai military decoration or promotion. The presentation concluded the programme at Wing 7 before the royal couple departed for Bangkok.
Queen completes months of Royal Thai Air Force training with 45 subjects and 20 Gripen simulator sorties
The Queen’s preparation began in June 2026 under a specialist Royal Thai Air Force conversion programme. Initially, she completed classroom instruction covering 45 academic and emergency-procedure subjects.
This phase continued through July, providing the technical preparation required before progressing to flight exercises. Subsequently, she undertook 20 simulator sorties designed around the Gripen’s operating requirements. The exercises formed part of the established training sequence before supervised flying aboard the actual aircraft.
The programme then advanced to practical instruction at Wing 7 in Surat Thani. The Queen undertook two extended training visits to the southern fighter base. The first ran from August 20 until September 4.
Separately, the second began on September 25 and continued until October 8. Throughout both periods, Royal Thai Air Force instructors supervised her progress and provided specialist guidance. The training ultimately culminated in Thursday’s solo flight, witnessed by the King.
A central component involved flying the two-seat JAS 39D Gripen with an instructor. This aircraft allows a second crew member to accompany the trainee during conversion exercises.
Queen logs over ten hours in a two-seat Gripen before advancing to solo flight in the single-seat JAS 39C
According to the reported figures, the Queen accumulated 10 hours and 13 minutes aboard the JAS 39D. She then progressed to the single-seat JAS 39C, which requires independent operation. Consequently, the final sortie took place without an instructor or additional crew member aboard.
The Royal Thai Air Force designates the Gripen as Fighter-Attack Type 20. The Queen undertook the conversion programme at the air force’s invitation, following its established training syllabus.
Her preparation included academic study, simulator exercises and supervised flight training. In addition, she had accumulated extensive experience operating other aircraft before entering the programme. That background included military trainers, light aeroplanes and Boeing passenger jets.
Queen Suthida’s aviation career began on May 13, 2010, according to the Royal Household. Her first recorded flight involved a Cessna T-41D belonging to Squadron 604 at Wing 6 in Bangkok. Since then, she has flown several aircraft types and accumulated substantial flying experience. The Royal Household reported her cumulative total at 1,188.48 hours. Her records cover both military training aircraft and larger passenger jets used for royal duties.
Queen’s flying record includes Boeing 737 jets, military trainers and more than 1,188 reported hours
Specifically, the Queen accumulated 315.33 hours aboard the Cessna T-41 and 38.35 hours in the CT-4E Airtrainer. She also recorded 105.59 hours in the Pilatus PC-9, a turboprop aircraft used for military pilot training.
Another 98.40 hours were accumulated aboard the Mooney M20M. Furthermore, her records include 137.50 hours in the Piper PA-34 Seneca. These aircraft formed part of her flying experience before her progression to larger passenger jets.
The Queen subsequently developed experience operating Boeing 737 aircraft. Her records show 27.09 hours aboard the Boeing 737-400 and 453.11 hours in the Boeing 737-800. The latter represents the largest individual flying total listed for any aircraft type. In parallel, her fighter conversion training added 10.13 hours aboard the two-seat JAS 39D.
The published breakdown does not fully reconcile with the Royal Household’s stated cumulative total. Nevertheless, the figures establish extensive aviation experience before Thursday’s solo Gripen flight.
Beyond her individual flying record, the Queen has served as co-pilot alongside King Vajiralongkorn. Their flights have included royal duties within Thailand and overseas. One prominent assignment involved the royal couple’s official visit to Bhutan in April 2025.
During that journey, the King piloted the royal aircraft while Queen Suthida served as co-pilot. The flight involved Paro International Airport, situated in a narrow Himalayan valley surrounded by mountains.
Queen’s experience at Bhutan’s challenging Paro airport preceded her training in a frontline fighter jet
Paro is internationally recognised for its demanding approach and departure procedures. The airport’s mountainous location presents particular challenges for pilots operating larger aircraft. During the official visit, the royal couple successfully completed their flight operations at Paro.
That assignment formed part of the Queen’s aviation experience before her fighter conversion training began. However, Thursday’s operation involved a different aircraft category and cockpit arrangement. The Queen was flying a single-seat combat fighter rather than serving as co-pilot aboard a passenger aircraft.
The Saab JAS 39C Gripen is a Swedish-built multirole combat aircraft operated by the Royal Thai Air Force. Thailand’s fleet is based at Wing 7 in Surat Thani, where Squadron 701 operates the fighters. The aircraft entered Thai service in 2011 and remains part of the country’s air defence capability. Its principal missions include air defence, ground attack and reconnaissance. Indeed, the Swedish designation JAS reflects these three military functions.
The single-seat JAS 39C is configured for one pilot. By contrast, the JAS 39D accommodates two crew members and supports conversion training. The Gripen can reach speeds approaching Mach 2 and operate at altitudes of approximately 50,000 feet. It measures 14.1 metres in length, with a wingspan of 8.4 metres. Meanwhile, power comes from a Volvo Aero RM12 engine. Its equipment includes digital fly-by-wire controls, radar, tactical data links and advanced avionics.
Thailand’s Gripen fighters combine Mach 2 speed with advanced systems as newer Swedish jets are ordered
Thailand’s Gripen fighters are also recognisable by their distinctive shark-mouth markings beneath the cockpit. The aircraft is designed for high-speed interception, air combat and ground attack operations.
However, Thursday’s flight was a training sortie rather than a combat mission. There was no indication that the Queen carried weapons or undertook operational military duties. Instead, the flight marked completion of the final stage of her fighter conversion programme.
Thailand originally acquired 12 Gripen C/D aircraft for the Royal Thai Air Force. However, one fighter was lost in an accident in January 2017. The remaining aircraft continue to form part of the country’s air defence capability. Meanwhile, Thailand is preparing to introduce a newer generation of Swedish-built fighters. In August 2025, the country ordered four Gripen E/F aircraft from Saab, with deliveries expected by 2030.
The acquisition forms part of the Royal Thai Air Force’s continuing fighter modernisation programme. The newer aircraft will supplement Thailand’s existing Gripen capability. In May 2026, Air Chief Marshal Seksan led a Thai Air Force delegation to Saab’s facility in Linköping, Sweden.
During that visit, the delegation inspected progress on the first Gripen E being manufactured for Thailand. Accordingly, Thursday’s flight occurred during a period of continuing cooperation between Thailand’s air force and the Swedish aerospace manufacturer.
Wing 7 training programme concludes as King presents Queen Suthida with the Gripen Order Golden Patch
Wing 7 provided the specialist training facilities used throughout the Queen’s conversion programme. These included simulator instruction, supervised flights and preparation for the single-seat JAS 39C. The Queen completed the required training stages before undertaking Thursday’s 41-minute sortie.
Subsequently, the Royal Household confirmed that she had successfully completed the planned flight. The King observed both departure and landing before presenting the Swedish aviation honour.
The Gripen Order Golden Patch is associated with the honorary Swedish aviation organisation. According to AeroTime, Queen Suthida became a full member after completing the solo flight.
The King personally attached the gold-embroidered insignia to her uniform during the presentation at Wing 7. However, the announcement did not identify the honour as a Thai military decoration. Nor did it announce any new operational appointment for the Queen within the Royal Thai Air Force.
Queen Suthida’s 41-minute solo Gripen flight completes four months of specialised fighter-pilot training
The flight added the single-seat JAS 39C to Queen Suthida’s aviation record. Previously, her experience included light aircraft, military trainers, Boeing passenger jets and supervised flights aboard the JAS 39D.
Thursday’s operation followed months of instruction, including 45 academic subjects and 20 simulator sorties. It also followed two extended training periods at the Surat Thani airbase. Ultimately, the Queen completed the 41-minute flight alone, returning safely to Wing 7.
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King Vajiralongkorn witnessed the operation before personally presenting the flowers and Gripen Order Golden Patch. The royal couple then returned to Bangkok aboard a royal aircraft.
The Royal Household confirmed that Queen Suthida had completed her first solo Gripen flight under established Royal Thai Air Force procedures. Her achievement followed more than 16 years of flying experience and four months of specialist fighter training.
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