On October 8, 2026, the 48‑year‑old queen took off from Wing 7 in Phun Phin District in a single‑seat JAS 39C Gripen and flew for 41 minutes. The palace account, published by Krungthep Turakij, says this made her Thailand’s first female Gripen pilot.

The solo flight was the final step of a conversion course that follows the Thai Air Force syllabus. Between June and July, she studied 45 academic and emergency‑procedure subjects, completed 20 simulator sessions and then accumulated just over 10 hours in the two‑seat JAS 39D before moving to the single‑seat jet, Krungthep Turakij reported.

Her time at the base was split into two periods: from 20 August to 4 September and again from 25 September to 8 October 2026, The Nation said.

Palace figures show she has logged more than 1,188 flying hours in total, including over 450 hours on a Boeing 737‑800. She also holds an airline transport pilot licence and a type rating for the 737, according to the palace and The Nation.

After the landing, King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented her with a bouquet and attached the Gripen Order Golden Patch to her sleeve, a gold‑embroidered badge that makes her a full member of the honorary Swedish Gripen Order, AeroTime reported.

What her journey teaches us is that becoming a modern combat pilot requires more than bravery. It demands rigorous classroom study, many simulator repetitions, real‑flight hours in a trainer aircraft, and a steady progression from two‑seat to solo jets. Suthida’s path shows how each stage builds the skills needed to handle a sophisticated aircraft like the Gripen.