In 1952 a former Piasecki helicopter designer named Haig Kurkjian negotiated a lease of the Main Line Airport’s buildings, hangars, and a small portion of land. His intention was to develop and market a small personal helicopter, and Haig Kurkjian’s new company, Haig-K Aircraft Corp, would occupy the former airport for the next 26 years. After 9 years of research and testing, a 2-place prototype called the HK-1 successfully completed its maiden flight in November 1957, becoming the world’s first helicopter to successfully utilize a multi-vee belt drive for both main and tail rotors.