1979
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
January
- 30th
Lerwick Up Helly-Aa.
March
- 1st
Scottish devolution referendum. Shetland votes decisively against a Scottish Assembly, 5,466 "No"s to 2,020 "Yes"s, although the result elsewhere is more controversial.
May
- 3rd
General Election, Jo Grimond, Liberal, returned with a majority of 6,810.
July
- 4th
Master Mariner Gordon B Smith, left Lerwick with his 32 foot yacht Varangian on his 16,050 miles voyage to New Zealand. - 12th.
Adventurer Ragnar Thorseth with 'Strandholm' arrives Shetland on his way to the Northwest Passage. He brings in tow the 20 foot speedboat 'Hugin'. With that will he, T. Berge and A. Moltubakk do an attempt to cross the passage 75 years after Roald Amundsen with 'Gjøa' did it as the first. - 31st
Danair Hawker Siddley HS748, G-BEKF crashed into the sea at the end of Sumburgh Airport's runway 09 whilst attempting a take-off, 17 of the 47 souls on board were lost
September
- New Terminal Building at Sumburgh Airport officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra.
- 27th
Ve Skerries Lighthouse first lit
November
- 3rd
General cargo vessel Saint Kentigern wrecked on Kettla Ness, West Burra.
