Did you know the first cow to fly took to the skies in 1930?

Meet Elm Farm Ollie—known as Nellie Jay in her youth and Sky Queen after her historic flight—the remarkable cow who became the first bovine to fly and the first to be milked in flight.

During a demonstration at the International Air Exposition in St. Louis, Ollie soared into history aboard a Ford Tri-Motor on February 18, 1930. Pilot Claude M. Sterling and Ollie’s handler, Elsworth W. Bunce, coaxed the 1,000 pound Sky Queen onto the airplane, then took off on the 72 mile flight from Bismarck, Missouri, to St. Louis. Her midair milking wasn’t just a stunt—it showcased how aviation could support agriculture and rural communities. Her milk was even parachuted down to spectators below. Pilot Charles Lindbergh was one of the lucky recipients of the milk from heaven.

Stories like this remind us that aviation isn’t just about airplanes—it’s about innovation, problem‑solving, and the creative ways flight connects to everyday life.

Here’s to Elm Farm Ollie the Sky Queen, the high‑flying pioneer who proved that the sky is full of surprises.