From sewing machines to the power behind the Chinook helicopter

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Lycoming Engines powers more than half of the world's general aviation fleet, but its origins are far removed from the cockpit. Before it became an aviation titan, the company was a pioneer in fashion, producing sewing machines and dressmaking patterns for the American public.

The company's roots trace back to 1845 under Madame Ellen Curtis Demorest. While the early history is somewhat murky, the Demorest family was initially involved in the fashion industry. Between 1860 and 1887, they operated a manufacturing company in New York that produced sewing machines and sold innovative paper patterns for dressmaking. It wasn't until 1883 that the brand moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where it began producing 50 to 60 sewing machines daily.

The transition from domestic goods to heavy machinery was gradual. By 1891, the company began manufacturing bicycles, and by 1907, sewing machine production became unprofitable. The business was restructured as the Lycoming Foundry and Machine Company, pivoting toward automobile engines. During the 1920s, Lycoming became a primary supplier for high-end luxury vehicles, producing powerful straight-eight engines for the Duesenberg J series, which offered significantly more horsepower than the standard Ford Model A of that era.

Aviation became the company's primary focus in 1929 with the debut of the R-680 radial engine. Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Lycoming pursued ambitious, high-power designs, including the XR-7755—the largest aviation piston engine ever constructed. Although that specific 36-cylinder beast was only ready at the end of World War II as the industry shifted toward jets, it cemented Lycoming's reputation for engineering scale.

Today, Lycoming is a cornerstone of modern flight. It is a principal pioneer of turboshaft engines for heavy-lift helicopters, such as the 4,000-horsepower T55 that powers the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. While the company faced challenges in the 1980s and 90s, it remains a dominant force, powering aircraft from small experimental planes to commercial jetliners like the BAe 146.

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