Queen Suthida of Thailand completes historic solo Gripen fighter flight

Queen Suthida of Thailand completed a historic solo flight in a single-seat Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet on October 8, 2026. The flight took place at the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 7 base in Surat Thani province. This achievement makes her the first reigning queen in the world to pilot a modern fighter jet solo.

The 48-year-old Queen, who has accumulated over 1,188 flying hours across various aircraft including Boeing 737s, underwent rigorous training to prepare for the mission. Her training included 45 academic subjects, 20 simulator sessions, and approximately 10 hours of flight time in a two-seat JAS 39D Gripen with an instructor. The solo mission lasted 41 minutes.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn observed the flight from the ground. Following her successful landing, the King presented the Queen with a bouquet of flowers and pinned the ‘Gripen Order Golden Patch’ to her uniform, an honor from a Swedish-based association for Gripen pilots. The event highlights the Queen's military background and the ongoing use of Swedish-made Gripen aircraft by the Royal Thai Air Force.