King Observes Queen's First Solo Gripen Flight
King Maha Vajiralongkorn observed Queen Suthida's first solo flight in a JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet at Wing 7 Air Base in Surat Thani on October 8, 2026. After the flight, he presented her with a bouquet and awarded the Gripen Order Golden Patch insignia. The Queen has logged over 1,188 flight hours and frequently flies alongside the King on royal missions.
The King personally visited Wing 7 Air Base in Punpin, Surat Thani, to observe Queen Suthida's inaugural solo flight in a JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet. Accompanied by Air Force Chief Akkaradet Kongtha and Wing 7 Commander Pasan Sombatthawi, the Queen received a briefing on her flight plan before taking off from runway 22. After completing the solo sortie, the King presented her with a bouquet and awarded the Gripen Order Golden Patch insignia. The Queen has accumulated over 1,188 flight hours across various aircraft types, beginning her aviation career in 1990 with a Cessna T-41. She regularly serves as a co-pilot alongside the King on royal flights domestically and abroad.