Sumburgh Links was surveyed and the grass strips laid out by Captain E. E. Fresson in 1936, and the airport was opened on 3 June of that year with the inaugural flight from Aberdeen (Kintore) by de Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ACPN piloted by Captain Fresson himself. It was also one of the first airfields to have RDF facilities, due to the frequency of low cloud and fog and the proximity of Sumburgh Head.
Sumburgh Links airport was established in 1936 with Captain E.E. Fresson laying out the grass strips. The airport opened on June 3rd, 1936, with a flight from Aberdeen (Kintore) by Captain Fresson himself in a de Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ACPN. It was one of the first airfields to have Radio Direction Finding (RDF) facilities due to its location and frequent fog and low cloud conditions.