There were bracing struts forward to the engine bulkhead and the axles sloped inwards and upwards to a post below the fuselage, all rather like a strengthened version of the on the Parnall Elf.

The Perch had a two-wheel, solid-axle undercarriage, mounted on oleo legs joined to the fuselage close to the leading edge of the wing and the engine bulkhead.

Corrosion was found to be a chronic problem in the engine bulkhead, the steel wall separating the engine from the passenger compartment.

As a result, the leading edge at the centre was above the engine bulkhead, and the trailing edge at the tips beyond and aft of those of the lower plane.

At approximately 04.30 on 8 April 1961, a large explosion struck the port side of the engine casing between decks, passing through the engine bulkhead and two upper decks, including the main lounge.

The wheeled undercarriage was a simple single-axle arrangement, with oleo legs forward to the engine bulkhead and rearward bracing struts to the root of the rear wing spar.

The single high wing, with wooden mainspars, is braced by landing wires running from a pylon atop the centre-section, and by flying wires from the lower longerons and the engine bulkhead.

Apart from the modifications included in the main batch of Seafire Ibs this version incorporated catapult spools, and a single slinging lug on either side of the fuselage, just behind the engine bulkhead.

Ventilation for the main compartment was provided by an armoured ventilation grid on the right side, that however only sucked in air when a hatch in the engine bulkhead was opened.