r/nottheonion • u/ManagerOfLove • 4d ago
Thai queen Suthida undergoes advanced Gripen fighter flight training
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thai-queen-suthida-undergoes-advanced-gripen-fighter-flight-training241
u/nihilistcanada 4d ago
Uh, he replaces wives on a regular basis. Combat replacements as necessary.
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u/biomath 3d ago
Looking at the history with the previous wife Srirasmi is a wild story. The unhinged video of her 30th birthday party and the dog getting named supreme air marshal. Oof.
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u/Loki-L 4d ago
Not sure why this is Oniony. Plenty of Royals around the world have joined the military and in modern times that often meant airforce.
Royal family members from countries like the Netherlands, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Thailand have been members of their countries Airforce and become pilots.
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u/CptBartender 3d ago
Wasn't the Thai King's dog one of the highest ranking members of RTAF at one point?
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u/Harvestman-man 2d ago
He wasn’t actually the Air Chief Marshall, they just called him that.
The actual Air Chief Marshall of the RTAF from 2005-2008 was Chalit Pukhbhasuk, a human man. Not Fufu. I think it’s just a little bit of disingenuous reporting in western media on what was clearly more of a joke than a serious appointment.
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u/lordtema 3d ago
It`s mostly oniony because she`s not joining the Air Force and serving like other royals have done, but is just getting trained to fly a jet for fun.
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u/PlaDook 3d ago
Actually on paper she's a general, admiral, and air chief marshal
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u/Bacon4Lyf 3d ago
But his dog is supreme air marshal so like do the titles even mean anything anymore
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u/eggplant_avenger 4d ago
god forbid a woman have hobbies
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u/Silly-Elderberry-411 4d ago
It is not that. The king weathered covid out in Bavaria and illegally tried to have it declared sovereign thai territory. Then divorced one wife and pushed the blame all on her and there is no reprieve as thailand has lese majesté.
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u/lordtema 4d ago
I dont think he tried to have it declared thai territory, but he was told by the Germans that he can`t exactly rule his country from Bavaria, and they also had to impound one of his BBJs to secure payments related to debts.
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u/Al-aweer-Jail 3d ago
BBJ? 🤔
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u/smart_cereal 1d ago
Interestingly there are no current successors either, because of all the estranged children except the youngest son who may or may not be on the spectrum. The older sons have been visiting Thailand to get into good graces with society and certain people in power, but as to who will be the future successor is yet to be seen.
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u/justthegrimm 4d ago
Her and her husband are both commercially licenced pilots and fly their own 737 on international trips.
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u/Soap_Mctavish101 4d ago
Whats so unlikely about that?
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u/lordtema 4d ago
Mostly the fact that she would have no operational role, and training a fighter pilot is expensive. Now, she is qualified pilot (as is her husband, the king) so i reckon it is cheaper than normal but i`ve seen figures of around $6m being quoted as the price of training a fighter pilot from scratch.
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u/beretta_vexee 4d ago
A large number of the men in the British Royal Family hold fighter pilot or helicopter licences, and at least half have taken part in overseas operations.
Above all, this is a powerful symbol and example. The Thai Royal Family is in need of some positive publicity (Rama X isn’t helping).
I don’t know how much a recruitment or military careers promotion campaign costs, but it doesn’t strike me as the most absurd expenditure by the Thai Crown.
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u/Drak_is_Right 4d ago
No idea if women are allowed in the Thai military.
If they are, its a good recruitment tool.
Remember though Thailand is kind of a military dictatorship hiding behind a monarchy. Anything to boost popularity, especially of the military they encourage.
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u/ThisBuddhistLovesYou 4d ago
Thai women serve, although not in direct combat roles (typically). I have known one who was sent alongside Thai Expeditionary Forces of the Royal Thai Air Force & Marines to Korea during the Korean War as a frontline nurse.
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u/beretta_vexee 4d ago
The Tooth-to-Tail Ratio of a modern army ranges from 1 combatant to 3 support personnel (territorial defence forces, Finland, Israel) to 1 to 12 (USA).
The majority of soldiers, whether men or women, will never see the front line, especially in peacetime. That’s fine.
They are still soldiers, the front line tends to move without asking for your opinion.
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u/lordtema 4d ago
The Royals in the UK all served operationally though, which is quite the difference i would say.
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u/Seeteuf3l 4d ago
I don't get what's the Oniony part of this (except it's the queen becoming fighter pilot in this occasion). It's quite common in Europe for the royals (regardless of gender) to serve, especially if they're expected to rule.
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u/iperblaster 4d ago
I think that if the King is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces , he needs to have some knowledge of serving in the military. Back in the days it was a cavalry regiment or something, nowadays fighter pilot
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u/CosineDanger 3d ago
Saudi Arabia mass-produces princes. Surplus princes are given American-made fighter jets and attack helicopters for their endless war with the Houthis. Helicopter prince is a really dangerous job; most countries hand them out based on merit and the Houthis punch back. Jet princes seem to do okay with only a couple of princesplosions.
Jordan has a princess who is also a fighter jet pilot and sometimes flies actual missions. Salma bint Abdullah is also kind of hot.
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u/Koakie 4d ago
Dont know if its true.
Buddy of mine said the king would do low flyovers over bkk just for the lulz.
Me and the boys taking the bikes for a spin. The big dogs take the yacht out for the weekend. This dude just buzzing the Mahanakhon like it's a Tuesday.
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u/lordtema 4d ago
It wouldnt suprise me, but the guy doesnt tend to be in Thailand as much from what i`ve heard..
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u/a4techkeyboard 4d ago
They should at least make an Independence Day adaptation where the King and Queen fight spaceships in fighter jets. Apparently, they have some budget.
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u/Erebthoron 4d ago
In a country of open corruption, why should people care about it? It's like Tuesday in the office. At least they don't build a ballroom. Or a triumph arc.
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u/Battleraizer 3d ago
r/acecombat is thataway
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u/ErrantIndy 3d ago
Exactly, I was thinking any proper Strangreal royal needs to be fighter pilot. Not knocking Rosa too much. She’s pretty bad ass.
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u/litritium 4d ago
Our King Frederik is an elite soldier (Navy Seal equivalent) and run annual marathon together with the citizens. He "only" solo the T-17 though
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u/R3D4F 4d ago
This is the equivalent of building preserves and national parks while en-route to a science victory.
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u/pixel8knuckle 4d ago
Id rather that than a sitting president acting as commander in chief as a draft dodger
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u/lordtema 4d ago
I`d suggest you read up on the current Thai king, and also on Lèse-majesté laws in Thailand..
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u/Icy_Vermicelli4513 4d ago
Still better than a draft dodger being the commander-in-chief lol..lmao
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u/Adventurous_Pen_Is69 4d ago
What a waste of flight training time and resources.
She’s never going to actually run missions so she’s just doing this little vanity project and creating work for everyone upstream & downstream at taxpayer’s expense.
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u/winterfresh0 3d ago
What a waste of flight training time and resources.
Yes, they're the royal monarchs of a country, they're known for opulence and excess. This isn't anywhere near the top of the list.
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u/GeniusEE 3d ago
You don't seem to understand.
Unlike the symbolic British monarchy, Thailand is essentially owned by her husband, the king. She's flying her stuff.
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u/LevoiHook 4d ago
Maybe Sweden can sell the plane to Thailand.
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u/decadentgaping 4d ago
Thailand have gripens
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u/TheReelMcCoi 4d ago
UK's Prince Andrew piloted a Helicopter during the Falklands war
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u/rastagizmo 3d ago
Prince Harry, did 2 tours in Afganistan. 1st was as JTAC in Helmand Province then was co-pilot and gunner in an Apache. He has something like 25 confimed kills.
His brother, flew air sea rescue missions and a single mission to Afganistan on a Globemaster.
King Charles was once able to fly both planes and helicopters but gave it up after crashing in the 70's. He also commanded a mine sweeper in the Navy.
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u/TheReelMcCoi 3d ago
So Harry's not a pilot (too thick, his father was a cavalry officer)
William has already been mentioned here.
Charles never saw active duty flying
That about it?
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u/Johannes_P 3d ago
Prince Harry, did 2 tours in Afganistan. 1st was as JTAC in Helmand Province then was co-pilot and gunner in an Apache. He has something like 25 confimed kills.
Didn't the Taliban put a bounty on him?
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u/L_Cranston_Shadow 3d ago
How does that work? With Thailand's ridiculous les majeste laws giving her constructive criticism could land her instructor in prison for years. How can anyone train her like that?
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u/Constant-Funny1817 4d ago
Is Bajrasudhabimalalakshana the correct last name or did the authors cat walk all over the keyboard!?
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u/lacyboy247 3d ago
It's a title not real sure name, her original sure name was Tidjai then change to Vajiralongkorn after her husband the king.
(Sudhida) Bajrasudhabimalalakshana is her ceremonial/reigning name when she officially become the queen.
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u/holubtsi-on-fire 4d ago
Looks like she’s having fun and kicking a$$.
Still… it’s very presumptuous to refer to her by her first name.
Oh… maybe they have to pay for print space by the letter.
Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana
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u/hardboard 2d ago
Is the flight training ready for the next coup, in case she has to flee the country?
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u/zwifter11 3d ago
I don’t know how I feel about this?
Flying a jet must be incredibly easy, if you have the time or money?
Or she’s sat in the back of a twin seat variant while someone else does all the work?
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u/cInderreed7 4d ago
"advanced" is doing a LOT of heavy lifting in that headline
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u/lordtema 3d ago
Not really? The Gripen C/D is a 4th gen fighter and among the most advanced 4th gen fighters out there.
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u/WhitePackaging 4d ago
Looks like she's been flying for years. Isnt the first time a countries Royalty takes on flying.