Thai Queen Suthida completes first solo Saab Gripen flight
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Queen Suthida performed her first solo flight in a Saab JAS 39C Gripen on 8 October 2026 at Wing 7 airbase in Surat Thani province.
The 41‑minute flight followed roughly ten hours of training on the twin‑seat Saab JAS 39D Gripen and simulator work; the queen has more than 1,188 flight hours in various aircraft types, and King Maha Vajiralongkorn watched from the ground and presented flowers and a golden Gripen badge after landing. The Thai Air Force has operated the Gripen C/D since 2011 and in August 2025 ordered four Gripen E/F aircraft for delivery between 2025 and 2030.