Flightglobal's Craig Hoyle writes:
Saab celebrates first flight of Thai fighter
Thailand's first of at least six Saab Gripen C/Ds has made its first flight from the Swedish manufacturer's Linköping facility.
Flown by a Saab test pilot, the two-seat Gripen D completed its 80min debut sortie on 16 September.
"The Royal Thai Air Force will start their training on Gripen in Sweden next year, and the fighters will be delivered to Thailand in 2011," says Saab.
on September 17, 2009 6:47 PM | Reply
the thais don't need gripens, they need more f-16's. used and cheaper!! who are they going to fight?---themselves. iceman
on September 17, 2009 9:34 PM | Reply
Geez, no Thai Fighter jokes??
I heard that the Saab test pilot for this flight was Imon the Leader...
on September 21, 2009 1:51 PM | Reply
to barry martin: I don't think the thais investition into gripens was so bad.
on October 12, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply
It's extremely funny to read some comment saying that
"the thais don't need gripens, they need more f-16's. used and cheaper!! who are they going to fight?---themselves. iceman"
Dear Mr. Martin,
This commentator still has no idea even who we going to fight so how could you waste your time reading his comment. Thai love peace and always ready to fight with the enermy so why we choose this jet fighters as our replacement fleet at wing 7. If you have no idea of how obsolete those used C/D if compare to the Gripen. You should start learning of what is the classification & generation of the fighter aircraft is! Then seriously study in details of each aircraft and you will be more smarter a- hole!
Barry Martin, now do you have some idea of where to start studying of the classification & the generation of modern fighter aircraft. If you still being nut, read on this web!! Gripen is in the same class as Rafle, Eurofighter, Raptor and it!!!
Fight with whom, it is not ourselves but I will personally kick your ass if you come to my country!!! DO NOT DEFAME THAI OR I WILL KICK YOU ROTTEN A-HOLE!