Air Force Chief Reveals Queen’s Solo Gripen Flight Boosts Morale
The Royal Thai Air Force Commander disclosed that Queen Suthida piloted a Gripen jet solo for the first time, a flight intended to boost morale among air force personnel. He said the Queen presented a royal gift from the King to troops fighting to defend the nation, recalling their recent victories over Cambodia. The gesture underscores the monarchy’s role in supporting the armed forces.
Speaking at the Air Force Conference Hall in Saraburi on October 12, 2069, the Air Force Chief said Queen Suthida completed her first solo flight in a Gripen jet at Wing 7 in Surat Thani on October 8. The flight was arranged to mark her 48th birthday on June 3, 2069 and the 90th anniversary of the Air Force, and to give morale to air warriors. He recalled that after the first clash in July 2068, the Queen visited air force personnel personally on August 15, 2068, where she presented a royal gift from the King — a purple box containing the King’s land power symbol — which he, then Assistant Air Force Chief, distributed to troops and supporters. A few months later, during the second battle, the forces secured victory. The Air Force Chief described the gift as immense morale, a manifestation of the King’s grace, and stressed that the institution of nation, religion, and monarchy must be upheld and protected.
