About the Saint Paul Downtown Airport
Saint Paul Downtown Airport (Holman Field) remains one of Twin Cities' most important general aviation airports. Its location along the Mississippi River, just south of downtown Saint Paul, has made it a strategic aviation site for nearly a century.
The airport's namesake, Charles "Speed" Holman, was one of the most celebrated aviators of the 1920s. In addition to his barnstorming and airmail work, he became famous for aerobatic feats such as his record-setting 1,093 consecutive loops, which helped make him a national aviation celebrity during the golden age of flight.
Holman Field also occupies an important place in airline history. It served as the original headquarters and operational base of Northwest Airlines during the carrier's early years, before the airline expanded into one of the largest carriers in the United States. The airport additionally supported military activities during World War II, modifying bomber airplanes in what are now the Historic Riverside Hangars, and has continued to serve business aviation, flight training, and other general aviation operations.
