World · Singapore Bureau
Thai Queen Suthida Makes Solo Debut in Fighter Jet
Queen Suthida of Thailand piloted a single-seat fighter aircraft unaccompanied for the first time, taking off from a military airbase in the country's south. The flight marked a significant moment for the Thai royal family's aviation activities.
LSN Singapore ·
Queen Suthida conducted her inaugural solo flight in a JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet at a Royal Thai Air Force base located in Surat Thani province on Wednesday. The single-seat aircraft departure represented a milestone in the Queen's aviation experience, demonstrating her proficiency at the controls of one of the region's most advanced fighter platforms.
The JAS 39C Gripen is a Swedish-manufactured multirole combat aircraft known for its agility and modern avionics systems. The aircraft has been operated by the Royal Thai Air Force as part of its fleet modernisation efforts over the past two decades.
Details surrounding the duration and specifics of the flight remain limited. The Queen's aviation activities have previously been documented by Thai authorities, with the royal household periodically releasing information about such events to the public.
The flight adds to Thailand's ongoing military aviation operations in the southern region, where the air force maintains several operational bases. Such training and familiarisation flights by senior personnel are conducted according to established protocols within the armed forces.