The company was organized by Albert S. Menasco in 1926 to convert World War I surplus Salmson Z-9 water-cooled nine-cylinder radials into air-cooled engines for private use.

His association with John K. (Jack) Northrop and his flying wing project in the late 1920s convinced him of the need for a new configuration of aircraft engine: an inverted in-line air-cooled layout that would have the propeller shaft on top for better ground clearance and improved pilot vision.

[2] During WWII, Menasco manufactured aircraft landing gear for North American, Lockheed, Republic, General Dynamics, and others.

One of the less obvious benefits Menasco offered was his willingness to build custom engine combinations to fit special airplanes for reasonable prices.

Menasco opened a car dealership, tried his hand at grape cultivation and winemaking, and was sought for advice by aviators and engine manufacturers until his death in 1988.

By the end of the 1990s, Menasco Aerosystems was the free world's largest producer of aircraft landing gear, with plants in California, Texas and Canada.

Gear sets were also made for the Lockheed L-1011, Boeing, Douglas, Convair, Martin, McDonnel, Republic, North American and other aircraft manufacturers.

[11] In 1977, Colt Industries bought Menasco as part of its expansion into the aerospace technology development and manufacturing business sector.

[12] Menasco was a supplier of landing gears to General Dynamic in the manufacture of F-16 fighter jets that were sold to the United States NATO allies.

The divisions, principal products and principal markets of the Aerospace/Government segment are as follows:[15] In the first quarter of 1994, Coltec Industries Inc. closed its landing gear manufacturing plant in Burbank, California, consolidating the production of landing gear systems at its Menasco Aerosystems facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and its Menasco Aerospace Ltd. facility in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

After approval by shareholders and anti-trust regulators, the merged company moved to Coltec's headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.