1903 – The Wright Brothers make four flights in their Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. After years of dedicated research and development, the brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright fly 120 feet (37 m)) in the first practical aeroplane. This may be the first controlled powered heavier-than-air flight and the first photographed powered heavier-than-air flight. On their fourth flight they manage 850 feet (260 m).

1910 – The Curtiss Aeroplane Company is founded.

1912 – Pappy Boyington, American pilot, is born (d. 1988). Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, USMC, was an American fighter ace. He commanded the famous U. S. Marine Corps squadron, VMF-214 (“The Black Sheep Squadron”) during World War II. Boyington became a prisoner of war later in the war. He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.

1935 – The Douglas DC-3, one of the most successful airliners of all time, makes its first flight

1939 – New York’s La Guardia Airport opened for service

1941 – The Imperial Japanese Navy makes a devastatingly successful surprise attack on the US Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor. Six aircraft carriers launched a total of nearly 400 warplanes which claimed five US battleships and ten other vessels, and damaged three other battleships. The US declares war on Japan.

1951 – Alaska Air becomes the first airline to fly over the North Pole

1951 – Maj George Davis of the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron shoots down four MiG-15 s in a single day

1957 – Introduced: Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

1972 – Apollo program: Eugene Cernan is the last person to walk on the moon, after he and Harrison Schmitt complete the third and final Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) of Apollo 17. This was the last manned mission to the moon of the 20th century.

1991 – Pan Am, bankrupt since August 11, is finally dissolved after 63 years of operation

2001 – Captain Bill Compton brings Trans World Airlines Flight 220, an MD-83, into St. Louis International Airport bringing to an end 76 years of TWA operations following TWA’s purchase by American Airlines.

2005 – Introduction: Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. It reaches an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,600 m) in less than three minutes

2022 – The last Boeing 747 left the company’s widebody factory in Washington on December 6, 2022, ahead of its delivery to Atlas Air in early 2023.

The above is a partial list of aviation events that took place in the month of December.  A more complete listing can be found here.