Thai Queen Suthida makes first solo flight in fighter jet

Thailand's Queen Suthida took her first solo flight in a Gripen fighter jet in Surat Thani on Thursday (Oct 8).

Footage shared by the PR Thai Government on Facebook shows the 48-year-old piloting a single-seat JAS 39C from a military air base in Thailand's southern Surat Thani province on Thursday. 

After the flight, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented Suthida with a bouquet and the Gripen Order Golden Patch, an honourary insignia in recognition of her achievement. 

The Queen first qualified as a pilot on May 13, 2010, when she flew a Cessna T-41D of Fleet 604 at Wing 6 in Bangkok.

For this fighter jet flight, she had to undergo weeks of training to prepare, and reportedly stayed in Surat Thani between August and October, reported local media.

@asiaone Thailand's Queen Suthida has taken her aviation credentials to historic heights as she completed her maiden solo flight in a single-seat JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet on Thursday [Oct 8]. #news #Thailand #FighterJet #Queen ♬ original sound - AsiaOne

She also accumulated around 10 hours in a two-seater Gripen before flying solo, reported local media. 

The Queen was reportedly a former Thai Airways flight attendant before marrying the king in 2019. 

She has since logged nearly 1,190 flying hours in a variety of aircraft. 

She often flies as the king's co-pilot on royal trips and even helped to land a royal plane at Bhutan's notoriously difficult Paro airport in April last year.

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