Lycoming traces its beginning to a mid-nineteenth century sewing machine manufacturer. In 1907 that company was sold and restructured as the Lycoming Foundry and Machine Company, which produced automobile engines, and later was a subsidiary of the Auburn Auto Company. Although its early aircraft engines were radials, Lycoming entered the light-aircraft engine field early in 1938 with the introduction of the air-cooled, four-cylinder, horizontally opposed O-145 engine.

Along with Continental and Franklin, Lycoming was a basic provider of engines for the ubiquitous bright yellow Piper Cub, which sold for less than $2,000 and was synonymous with small general aviation aircraft for many years.

The O-480 was a high performance, air-cooled, six-cylinder, horizontally-opposed engine. It powered numerous general aviation aircraft, including the Aero Commander, Beech Twin Bonanza and Queen Air, and Helio Courier. This geared and supercharged model powered the Beech Seminole U8-D, Beech Twin Bonanza F-50, Dornier DO-27-H2, and Aeritalia AM-3C.