A big thank you for all the support received for 2006 winners trip and for making our youth feel welcome in your country.

Three very excited students, Alex, Simon and Willie along with their educator, left OR Thambo International Airport for London, UK on 2nd December 2006.
After arrival, they spent the day sightseeing, exploring and enjoying the sights of London, whilst making their way to Derby where the work part of the winnings would begin.
Each team was asked to write a short report on the trip cover each of the factory visits. To give us a brief picture of what they saw a selection from each report on each of their factory visits - an excerpt of these is below:

Monday 4 December 2006 - Rolls Royce
Willie: First we were given a quick tour of the company's Heritage Trust, which is a basic history of their earlier engine types as they progressed from the first primitive piston engines to the latest jet engines currently used on today's aircrafts. Next we were shown how engines are serviced and overhauled as well as how the many worn parts that get scrapped are dealt with. We were also given detailed descriptions of the different engine sections that get serviced and of the different blade types used in engines. Following lunch at noon, our team was shown around the Operations Room, where RR engines around the globe are monitored and co-ordinated to where they are needed. At the testing facility, we saw how engins are assembled and tested before they can be cleared for commercial use. Lastly the manufacturing facilities staff showed us the method by which key engine parts are made as well as how production equipment is designed.

Tuesday 5 December 2006 - Bombardier
Simon: Our second day in Derby was spent at Bombardier, wher we observed the different stages of manufacturing a railway coah and how a coach is refurbished and serviced. We then drove to the Tram Facility in Nottingham and witness how a city's entire tram system operates - we were in the main control room and spoke to the operator and co-operator. Every single tram and tram station was monitored by close curcuit television (CCTV). We then took a tram to the city centre where we enjoyed lunch at Hard Rock Café. We were then transported by tram to the tram facility and we were shown how they serviced the tram. We even saw the undercarriage of the trams and the roof of the trams where electricity boxes are. Trams have to go for a check up every 5000km and have to be serviced every 50 000km. Another very interesting sight was that of the tram "tyre".

Wednesday 6 December 2006 - FEONIC
Alex: We the visited the Feonic site were there are a lot of little gadgets. I found this site the most fascinating. We saw many things. Like the wispering windows, sound bugs and mpp3 goggles. It was all so exciting and interesting. We learnt quite a bit there. Including the new inventions that is to make a wisphering bath tub! I can't wait to see there new inventions. We were all given a sound bug and a set of brochures.

Thursday 7 December 2006 - IMechE
Simon: The 7th started with a visit to the Institution of Mechanical Engineering which is situated very close to Westminster Abbey. We attended an exhibition of great inventors and also visited the Institution massive, most impressive library. We then enjoyed a flight on the London Eye - fascinating city as far as the eye could see. After the incredible flight, we traveled by subway to the huge and astounding London Science Museum which is probably every boys dream, to be entertained and bewildered by science, to look, listen and sometimes even touch the wonderful displays. Here we experienced the deep blue sea by the frightening "sharks" movie in 3D. We also visited the aviation, optic, medicine, civil and computer rooms and exhibitions and enjoyed this day immensely.

Friday 8 December 2006 - WSP Consulting Engineers
Simon: Our final day in England was spent visiting Algate Union Site which was now being renovated into the new Bank of Scotland. We were introduced to the building methods and how much wiring goes in to a major project. We were shown the entire building site, from scaffolding to elevator shafts, to cranes and the tanks where the fire emergency water is stored underground. After lunch we made our way back to London Heathrow airport where we boarded and departed for Oliver Thambo International Airport near Johannesburg.

General Comments:
Simon Duim: This trip has definitely been an enriching experience and I have undoubtedly learnt about the different fields of engineering and what each entails. I have found this trip to be most interesting and enjoyable and what I have learnt id irreplaceable. It has definitely encouraged me to study one of the many fields of engineering after school and got me excited about persuing this career. I am very grateful for this amazing opportunity.
Thank You.

Alex Wang: I am very grateful to the Technology Olympiad for giving me this chance of participating in this event. I hope that more people can benefit from this event in the future and discover many engineering talents in this country!

Willie Viljoen: Our team would like to thank the Technology Olympiad and everyone involved for all their effort and hard work. Without there dedication and support this unforgettable as well as inspirational experience would not have been possible.