Queen Suthida of Thailand achieved a significant milestone in her aviation career by conducting her first solo flight in a fighter jet. According to the Thai Royal Household, the flight took place on 8 October at an airfield located in the southern province of Surat Thani. The event was observed from the ground by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who watched as the Queen took to the skies in a Gripen aircraft.
Official records from the Royal Household highlight that Queen Suthida is far from a novice in the cockpit. Since beginning her flight training in 2010, she has accumulated approximately 1,188 hours of flight time across a variety of aircraft types. Her extensive aviation background includes serving as a co-pilot on international flights, where she has assisted in transporting the King during his official visits to other nations.
The display of the Queen’s flying prowess underscores her ongoing engagement with aviation activities. While she has previously navigated aircraft in a professional capacity alongside others, this recent demonstration marks her debut as a solo pilot in a combat-ready fighter jet. The Royal Household released information confirming the details of the flight, showcasing both the aircraft and the Queen’s experience in the air. As an experienced pilot with over a decade of documented flight time, the Queen continues to balance her royal duties with her established interest in aviation, maintaining a consistent record of logged hours and specialized training since she first qualified as a pilot years ago.
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