Thailand's Queen Suthida makes her solo flying debut in a Gripen fighter jet

Thailand's Queen Suthida flew a solo sortie in a JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet at Wing 7 in Surat Thani. The flight extends her aviation record from a first Cessna sortie in 2010 to operating a high-performance military aircraft.Thailand’s Queen Suthida makes her solo flying debut in a Gripen fighter jet (Photos: @awkwardgoogle/X)Thailand’s Queen Suthida took to the skies in a JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet for a first ever solo flight, marking another milestone in her aviation journey.According to a report by The Bangkok Post, the Queen arrived at Wing 7 in Phun Phin district of Surat Thani province at 10 am, where she received King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The royal couple then attended a briefing on the flight plan before heading to the parking bay of the single-seat Gripen C fighter jet.The Queen inspected the aircraft before taking it to Runway 22 for takeoff. After completing the solo flight, the King presented her with a bouquet and a Gripen Order Golden Patch.Watch the video here: The Queen of Thailand flew a fighter solo today, becoming the first and only queen in the world to pilot a fighter jet https://t.co/I88eJH5Q32— Interesting things (@awkwardgoogle) October 9, 2026 The flight added to a long record of aviation experience for Queen Suthida, who first became a pilot on May 13, 2010. She flew a Cessna T-41D aircraft belonging to Fleet 604 at Wing 6 in Bangkok, beginning a journey that has since seen her accumulate 1,188.48 flying hours across different aircraft, according to The Bangkok Post.Queen Suthida is the Queen of Thailand and the wife of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Alongside her royal duties, she has maintained a long-standing interest in aviation, first qualifying as a pilot in 2010. With 1,188.48 flying hours across different aircraft and experience serving as co-pilot to the King on royal flights, her solo flight in the Gripen fighter jet marks another milestone in her journey as a pilot, as reported by The Bangkok Post.- Ends