Testing reshaped the TBD canopy and landing arrangement

The test aircraft's flat canopy placed framing where it obstructed the pilot's view and made it difficult to watch both the surroundings and the controls. Looking far enough behind to search for an attacker could remove the instrument panel from peripheral vision, a serious problem even with two other crew members aboard. The later raised canopy improved that working geometry and shows the practical value of flight testing. The semi-retractable undercarriage was meant to leave the wheels exposed enough to cushion a wheels-up landing. Because carrier landing gear was unusually strong, however, a hard belly landing could drive that structure into the airframe and cause more damage, making the feature a reasonable idea with a real tradeoff.