On 8 October, Thailand’s Queen Suthida, 36, became the first member of the Thai royal family to fly solo in a combat aircraft. The event took place at an airbase in Surat Thani province, where the monarch boarded a Saab Gripen under the watchful eye of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, standing at the ground control tower.
In official statements released by the Royal Household, it was confirmed that the Queen has been training as a pilot since 2010 and has logged roughly 1,188 flight hours across a variety of aircraft. Her hours include both solo flights and joint missions with the King on international trips, making her one of the most experienced female pilots in the Thai armed forces to date.
The Gripen, a modern multi‑role fighter employed by the Thai Air Force, was chosen for the Queen’s first solo attempt as it combines agility with advanced avionics systems. The solo session followed a brief safety briefing and a ground‑handling session, allowing the Queen to familiarize herself with the cockpit layout before taking off. The flight lasted a few minutes, covering a short circuit below the airbase, and was conducted without any crew members aboard.
Queen Suthida’s solo flight underscores the Thai monarchy’s commitment to modernizing the nation’s military capabilities, and it also highlights the increasing role of women within the armed forces. The Royal Household’s announcement was accompanied by a short video clip shown during a press briefing, which captured the moment when the aircraft lifted off from the runway. It is likely that the footage will be featured in upcoming broadcasts and virtual press conferences hosted by the Thai Ministry of Defense.
As the country watches the Queen break new ground in aviation, analysts predict that this milestone could pave the way for future initiatives aimed at encouraging female participation in Thailand’s military and aviation sectors. It also marks a symbolic bridging of tradition and modernity for the Thai Crown.
