First flight for Royal Thai Air Force Gripen

The first Gripen fighter for Thailand completed its maiden flight in Linköping, Sweden, today. The flight took off at 14:50 local time and lasted for 80 minutes with Saab test pilot Mats Thorbiörnsson at the controls.

2009-09-16 |

In 2008, Thailand ordered a complete aircraft and command and control system from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in a Government to Government deal. The order includes a first batch of six Gripen C/D with associated equipment and service, one Saab 340 aircraft equipped with Erieye radar (AEW), a Saab 340 for transport and training plus an integrated command and control system with data links.

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.

interesting news.... but the grey scheme is kinda dull (from modellers point of view la) :)

Hmmm Shark.........

Nice :)

Best
Mr B

i suppose C/D models are twin seaters? open new options for building these kit in Thailand national colors... ^_^



perhaps replace the seat with Aries cockpit..hmmmm..

Kay,
The Gripen C might be single seat and the Gripen D might be two seat.

I might have to get one of those models now to do a Thai version. I always liked the Gripen but it has boring markings. Now with the Thai markings and the shark on the tail it is more interesting. Hope someone makes decals soon.

would be fun to see a gripen in an imaginary RMAFs color scheme..since it might be a candidate for our next batch of MRCA..