Crating Technology Guest Blog: Engineering Precision in Motion: How an Arizona Company Helped Preserve a Record-Breaking Aircraft

In the heart of Arizona’s innovation corridor, where aerospace engineering meets advanced manufacturing, a remarkable collaboration unfolded—one that didn’t involve designing a new aircraft, but rather protecting a historic one. When Laminar Magic, a record-breaking experimental aircraft designed by physicist and aerodynamicist Alex Strojnik, needed to be shipped across the globe to its final home, the project called for more than just logistics. It required precision crating, aerospace-grade packaging, and international coordination—all handled by Crating Technology, a Phoenix-based specialist in custom crating and transport engineering.

This story is a powerful reminder that innovation doesn’t end at the lab, the factory floor, or the hangar. It continues through the unsung heroes of transport and preservation—those who ensure that technological achievements live on for future generations.

The Challenge: Moving an Aircraft as Light as Its Legacy Is Heavy

Laminar Magic is not your typical aircraft. Built to prove that small horsepower engines could achieve high speeds through micro-aerodynamics, the aircraft reached a stunning 126.7 mph on just 25 horsepower, earning a national speed record in its category. It is, in every sense, a masterclass in engineering efficiency.

But such innovation came at a cost: Laminar Magic is incredibly lightweight—just 498 pounds when fully loaded—and its aerodynamic surfaces are sensitive to even the smallest imperfections. Its compact design also made its structure highly dependent on precise weight distribution. In short: it was an aircraft that had to be crated like a spacecraft.

Shipping it safely wasn’t just a logistics problem. It was an engineering challenge.

Arizona-Built Engineering, Deployed Globally

Crating Technology stepped in to design a fully customized packaging solution, bringing together aerospace engineering principles with advanced crating expertise:

• Precision-Cut Foam Inserts: These cradled the aircraft at structurally reinforced points, preventing stress on vulnerable aerodynamic surfaces.
• Strategic Weight Distribution: The crate was engineered to maintain the plane’s center of gravity during transit, avoiding torsional stress or internal shifting.
• Custom Wooden Crate Construction: Fabricated using ISPM 15-certified heat-treated wood, ensuring compliance with international shipping regulations.
• Moisture and Vibration Protection: Stabilizing features protected against road vibration, climate change, and environmental exposure during the journey.

Every element of the design was tested against the worst-case transport scenarios—from road shock to customs delays—to ensure nothing would compromise the integrity of the aircraft.

Precision Logistics Meets Aerospace Standards

With the crating complete, the logistics strategy took center stage:

• Dedicated Ground Transport: A private, enclosed trailer with air-ride suspension was used to isolate Laminar Magic from road vibrations.
• Climate-Controlled Transit: Temperature and humidity were tightly regulated to protect the materials and foam structure.
• White-Glove Handling: Specialized crews managed the loading, securing, and unloading process, with a detailed inspection checklist at each phase.

“Shipping Laminar Magic was not just about moving a piece of machinery—it was about safeguarding a chapter of aviation history,” said Crating Technology’s operations lead. “That mindset guided every decision we made, from crate design to the final handoff overseas.”

Final Destination: The Technical Museum of Slovenia

The aircraft’s final stop? The Technical Museum of Slovenia, housed in the scenic Bistra Castle—a fitting home for a plane that represents one of the most elegant demonstrations of aerodynamic science. There, Laminar Magic is now on public display, serving as both a tribute to Alex Strojnik’s engineering genius and a source of inspiration for future generations of aerospace innovators.

This project also brought personal meaning: Strojnik was born in Slovenia, and returning his record-setting aircraft to his homeland honors his contributions to both science and cultural heritage.

Arizona’s Role in Global Innovation Logistics

This successful international project underscores a larger truth: Arizona’s tech and manufacturing ecosystem doesn’t stop at product creation—it extends to product preservation and global deployment. From semiconductors to satellites, medical robotics to advanced composites, Arizona companies like Crating Technology ensure that innovation doesn’t just stay in Arizona—it reaches the world safely, securely, and on time.

As a proud member of Arizona’s advanced industries sector, Crating Technology collaborates with aerospace, defense, and high-tech partners to deliver tailored crating and transport solutions. Whether it’s for a trade show on the East Coast, a research facility in Europe, or a museum halfway across the world, the company’s expertise ensures that critical assets arrive in the same condition they left—no exceptions.

Final Thoughts: Crating as an Extension of Innovation

To many, crating is just a wooden box. But to those in aerospace and high-tech manufacturing, it’s the final engineering step—the one that determines whether innovation survives the journey.

Projects like Laminar Magic prove that with the right partner, even the most delicate and irreplaceable technologies can travel the world without compromise. Crating Technology is proud to play that role for innovators in Arizona and beyond.

Interested in aerospace-grade crating or international transport solutions?

Contact Crating Technology for a tailored consultation. Whether you’re shipping aviation prototypes, semiconductor equipment, or museum-grade artifacts, we engineer protection from the inside out.

About Crating Technology

Crating Technology is a Phoenix-based provider of engineered crating, custom foam packaging, and logistics coordination services. As a proud member of the Arizona Technology Council, Crating Technology helps manufacturers, defense contractors, medical innovators, and clean energy companies protect and ship their most valuable assets—across town, across the country, or across the globe.