US Army PATA (Plenum Air Tread Amphibious Vehicle)

[Bill S]

I found these pictures in the Vought Aircraft Historical Foundation archives and had to go online to research PATA
to find out what the heck it was. PATA Plenum Air Tread Amphibian

It basically has a plenum that provides air to tracks that are a series of low pressure air cells and an airflow to keep the tracks clean.
The vehicle was built by LTV. I have located photos of three different stages of the program: the mockup, scaled test vehicle and
full size vehicle. I currently don't have any engineering reports or press releases for the vehicle so I offer the following two interweb
references for your information needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjb-uXrY7TQ

Page 7 of this document.
http://asc.army.mil/docs/pubs/alt/archives/1965/Oct_1965.PDF

PATA Mockup images attached to this message.

101338 shows the PATA and Gama Goat mockups
101344 closer view of PATA
10345 shows PATA in a more secluded location

 

[Bill S]

Next up the Scaled Test Vehicle


10844 Right Side View of interest Pilot's helmet on driver!
10847 Left Front View
10848 Right Rear showing some mechanical detail
10849 Closeup of Track


All VAHF images.

 

[Bill S]

Another set of the Scaled Test Vehicle


101853 Right front with a few dents in the front panel
102210 Climbing view left front
102211 Mechanical details at the heart of the vehicle
102221 Rear view showing mechanical details


VAHF images.

 

[Bill S]

Finally the PATA TEST BED Vehicle.


102226 PATA Test Bed Left Front View
102246 PATA Test Bed on the factory floor with XC-142 in background
101823 PATA running through water at Ft Lee
102237 PATA Closeup without tread installed


VAHF images.

 

[Bill S]

A few more PATA Test Bed vehicle images.


102238 PATA test set of tracks, engine and frame
102239 PATA test bed under construction
102224 PATA test track setup showing drive details
101831 PATA test bed with rear access open


VAHF images


I hope this series was of interest.

 

[tankgirl]

Bill, I am wondering if you have any more information on the tracks, blown up drawings of the track system. Actually, interested in recreating it.

 

[moin1900]

ARMY, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
DEC. 1962 - JAN. 63
VOLUME.4, NO.1
PAGE: 5
-ARTIST'S CONCEPT
"ARMORED" PLENUM AIR TREAD AMPHIBIAN

ARMY INFORMATION DIGEST
AUGUST 1963
VOLUME.18, No.8
PAGE:38
"THE SHAPE OF FUTURE ARMY TRANSPORTATION"
-M3 HALF-TRACK TEST BED

 

[tankgirl]

ARMY, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
DEC. 1962 - JAN. 63
VOLUME.4, NO.1
PAGE: 5
-ARTIST'S CONCEPT
"ARMORED" PLENUM AIR TREAD AMPHIBIAN

ARMY INFORMATION DIGEST
AUGUST 1963
VOLUME.18, No.8
PAGE:38
"THE SHAPE OF FUTURE ARMY TRANSPORTATION"
-M3 HALF-TRACK TEST BED

Thank you. I am a novice, don't even know where I would find these archived. Are these possibly at the present day GVSC (TARDEC) in Warren, MI? Do you have a contact there?

 

[moin1900]

SOURCE:

Google Books

SEARCH:
- Plenum Air Tread Amphibian ( artist's concept )
- CUSHION AIR TREAD ARTICULATE VEHICLE

Airoll - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org