On 16 Nov 18 members of the Oxford University Royal Naval Unit had the amazing opportunity to visit the Red Bull Team Formula 1 Factory in Milton Keynes followed by an impromptu visit to Bletchley Park - the home of the UK's wartime code breakers.
The visit began with a warm welcome from the tour organiser who then took the group to the car factory.
The tour covered a huge amount of detail for how components for the cars are developed, constructed, tested, monitored, repaired and enhanced.
The tour were shown the Modelling Shop, who research and develop new car components including the use of the Team's Wind Tunnel, the Machine Shop, the Electronics Workshop, the Paint Shop, the Operations Room, the Race Bays, including a pit practice in progress, and finally the extremely impressive Red Bull Hall of Fame.
The Guy Hudson Memorial Trust, who generously provide support to the Unit, kindly financed the visit as an engineering education.
It was a rare experience for the Officer Cadets who expressed a great deal of positive feedback.
Lieutenant Will Jones RN, Commanding Officer of the Oxford URNU said: "The in depth engineering tour covering a huge amount of how the cars are developed, manufactured, tested, monitored, maintained, repaired and enhanced - the attention to detail the team go to is simply amazing"
Upon completion of the tour and during the transit back to the Unit the Coxswain, CPO Gary Maskell, noted that Bletchley Park, the home of the wartime code breakers, was nearby.
He then proceeded to arrange an impromptu and fascinating visit to the famous facility.
CPO Gary Maskell, Coxswain of the Oxford URNU said: "Bletchley Park gave us an incredible insight into the vital code breaking work that happened during World War 2 and is absolutely worth a visit."
The Oxford URNU members that took part were: Lt Will Jones RN, CPO Gary Maskell, OCdt Hattie Sexton and OCdt Jackson Cooper-Driver.
2018 is the 'Year of Engineering' in the Royal Navy and Oxford is one of 15 URNUs located across the UK offering opportunities to 750 undergraduates from the country’s leading universities.
The URNU's mission is: "To develop an understanding of the Naval Service in undergraduates, so that those who go into civilian employment are positive advocates thereof and to facilitate a Naval Career for those who choose one."
The URNU is a chance to experience military life without commitment and gain new skills applicable to all walks of life.
