Thailand’s Queen Suthida Flies Gripen Solo: A Historic First
Queen Suthida of Thailand completed her first solo flight in a Saab JAS 39C Gripen on 8 October 2026, becoming the country's first female Gripen pilot.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
Updated October 9, 2026 
Update, 9 October 2026, 04:01
The Gripen flown by Queen Suthida carried special tail artwork marking 15 years of Gripen service in Thailand, Aviation A2Z reports. The aircraft entered RTAF service in 2011, making 2026 the type's fifteenth year in Thai colours.
The training syllabus included two aircraft types not previously detailed in this article. Before transitioning to the two-seat JAS 39D Gripen, Aviation A2Z reports that the Queen also flew the Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer as part of her preparation, alongside the Pilatus PC-9.
Aviation A2Z also reports that Thai Gripen fighters saw operational use during border clashes with Cambodia in July and December 2025, placing the solo flight in the context of a fleet that has seen active service in the preceding year.
Queen Suthida of Thailand completed her first solo flight in a Saab JAS 39C Gripen on 8 October 2026, making her the first female Gripen pilot in the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). The 41-minute sortie took place at Wing 7 in Surat Thani province and was witnessed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn himself.
What Happened at Wing 7
According to AeroTime, the flight departed from Runway 22 at the base in Phun Phin district at 10:06 local time. The Queen carried out a briefing on the flight plan and a pre-flight inspection of the single-seat fighter before taxiing for takeoff.
Air Chief Marshal Seksan Kantha, commander of the RTAF, and the Wing 7 commander were also present to observe the sortie. After she landed, King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented her with a bouquet.
The Golden Gripen Order Patch
Following the landing, the King attached a Golden Gripen Order Patch to the Queen's left sleeve. AeroTime reports that the Gripen Order, an honorary association in Sweden, presented the patch and accepted Queen Suthida as a full member.
The palace account identifies her as Thailand's first female Gripen pilot, marking a notable milestone for both the RTAF and the wider Gripen operator community.
The Training Course Behind the Solo Flight
The solo sortie was the final step in a conversion course for Fighter-Attack Aircraft Type 20, which is the RTAF's designation for the Gripen. The Queen undertook the course at the air force's invitation, following the RTAF's standard Gripen pilot training syllabus.
The programme began between June and July 2026 with 45 academic and emergency-procedure subjects, followed by 20 simulator sorties. She then flew the two-seat Saab JAS 39D Gripen with an instructor, accumulating approximately 10 hours before transitioning to the single-seat JAS 39C.
Queen Suthida's Flying Career
The Queen's aviation background is extensive. AeroTime notes that she first flew on 13 May 2010, in a Cessna T-41D of Squadron 604 at Wing 6 in Bangkok.
She subsequently gained experience on the CT-4E Airtrainer, Pilatus PC-9, Mooney M20M, and Piper PA-34 Seneca. She also serves as co-pilot alongside King Maha Vajiralongkorn on royal flights aboard Boeing 737-400 and 737-800 aircraft, with more than 450 hours logged on the 737-800 alone.
Her total flying experience across all aircraft types now exceeds 1,188 hours, according to the palace account.
Thailand's Gripen Fleet and What Comes Next
Wing 7 is the home of the RTAF's Gripen C/D squadron, which entered service in 2011. Thailand originally received 12 Gripen C/D fighters and currently operates 11, after losing a JAS 39C in a crash in January 2017.
The fleet is set to grow. AeroTime reports that Thailand ordered four Gripen E/F fighters in August 2025. In May 2026, an RTAF delegation led by Air Chief Marshal Seksan reviewed the start of assembly of the first Thai Gripen E at Saab's facility in Linköping, Sweden, with Saab confirming deliveries under that contract will take place by 2030.
The milestone comes at a busy moment for the Gripen programme globally. Earlier this month, the first Gripen E assembled in Brazil by Embraer completed its maiden flight from Embraer's industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, on 6 October 2026, as Saab continues to build out its international production network.
You can explore more about the manufacturers involved in the Gripen programme using the Manufacturer Search tool.
The Bottom Line
Queen Suthida's solo Gripen flight is a significant moment for the RTAF and draws considerable attention to Thailand's long-standing commitment to the Swedish fighter. With a new batch of Gripen E/F aircraft on order and assembly already under way in Linköping, the type will remain central to Thai air defence well into the next decade.
Her completion of the full RTAF training syllabus, from academic study through simulator and dual instruction to a solo sortie in a front-line fighter, underlines the depth of the royal family's engagement with the air force and its equipment.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
Advertise with us Your brand, in front of an aviation audience Home page and in-article placements, sold directly, one advertiser per slot. From £250 a year. See the rates
.JPG){kind=link}