Saint Paul is an important transcontinental airport and a terminal for established air lines. In addition the location of the municipal airport within five minutes’ travel from the Loop district is a strong factor in its usefulness. The Holman airport was named in honor of Charles W. (Speed) Holman who was largely responsible for the position Minnesota aviation now occupies. The Holman Municipal Hangar is occupied by the 109th Air Squadron, Major Ray Miller, commanding.
Born in Bloomington back in 1898, Charles Willis “Speed” Holman was an American barnstormer, wing walker, parachutist, stunt pilot, airmail pilot, record holding aviator, and airline pilot.Holman was the first pilot hired by Northwest Airways in 1926.Holman’s first pilot’s license was signed by Orville Wright. In 1928, Holman set a world’s record of 1,433 consecutive loops in an airplane in five hours over the St. Paul Airport. On May 17, 1931 the famous pilot died in an accident in front of 20,000 spectators at the opening of an airport in Omaha, Nebraska. Holman was only 32 years old. His funeral was one of the largest yet held in St. Paul.