Significant contributions in at least one of the following 

 Scientific contribution to theory and principles (whether correct or not) that were used as contemporary resources, building blocks, or influenced period thought, significant scientific or theoretical achievements with model aircraft; 
 Designing any aircraft (pre-1910), or a distinct/innovative new design; 
 Constructing a prototype aircraft (pre-1910);  
 Manufacturing aircraft (including some direct or supervisory control over design) for commercial and/or military contracts (intended to represent founders of the aviation industry); 
 Flying (Aviator) solo in an aircraft and receiving a relevant flying certificate (pre-1910); or any significant national (e.g., a flight representing a country’s first) or international achievement, or flight award (initial record holders or demolishing existing records, but not simply breaking established records); 
 Supporting aviation (e.g., positive publicity; personal, corporate and/or philanthropic sponsorship, education). 

 The pre-1910 cutoff in designing, constructing, and flying is meant to make inclusion on the list more difficult, otherwise (as other editors have pointed out) this list would become unmanageable. Just a starting point...-