Thailand's Queen Suthida flies solo in Gripen jet
The palace said Suthida is the first woman in Thailand to fly a Gripen solo after weeks of simulator training and about 10 hours in a twin-seat jet.
Thailand's Queen Suthida made her first solo flight in a JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet on October 8 from a military air base in Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand. Footage released by the palace showed King Maha Vajiralongkorn watching the flight from the ground. Before flying alone, Suthida underwent several weeks of simulator training and logged about 10 hours in a twin-seat Gripen. The palace said Suthida, 48, has studied aviation since 2010 and has accumulated about 1,188 to nearly 1,190 flying hours across various aircraft types. After landing, she received the Golden Gripen Order badge. Thailand currently operates Gripen jets made by Saab.