18 January in history.

1911

The first landing on a ship. Pilot Eugene Ely brought his plane down onto a wooden platform built on the deck of a ship anchored in San Francisco Bay. Nobody had landed an aircraft on a ship before.

Wikipedia: Eugene Burton Ely

Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

More from 18 January

1. 

   1896

   An X-ray machine on show

   Just weeks after X-rays were discovered, H. L. Smith showed a machine that could produce them to the public for the first time.

   Wikipedia: X-rayWikipedia: X-ray machine

   Photo: NickSpiker / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. 

   1958

   Willie O'Ree breaks a barrier

   Willie O'Ree played his first game for the Boston Bruins, becoming the first Black player in the National Hockey League.

   Wikipedia: Willie O'ReeWikipedia: National Hockey League

   Photo: U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

3. 

   1983

   Jim Thorpe's medals return

   The International Olympic Committee gave back the Olympic medals Jim Thorpe had won in 1912, decades after they were taken from him.

   Wikipedia: Jim Thorpe

   Photo: Underwood & Underwood / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

4. 

   2005

   The Airbus A380 is unveiled

   In Toulouse, France, Airbus revealed the A380, the largest passenger jet ever built.

   Wikipedia: Airbus A380

   Photo: Maarten Visser from Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.