To suit its intended use, it was recognised early on that such an aircraft would need to be operated from austere airstrips and less hospitable terrain. Furthermore, it was recognised that the type could be subsequently scaled upwards into a larger freighter, of which Miles had formulated multiple proposals even prior to the conflict's end. Beyond its military applications, the coming postwar era would see civilian operators that would need large numbers of economic short range transports and small freighters. A high-wing configuration selected for the aircraft, being fitted with external aerofoil flaps, and powered by a pair of Blackburn Cirrus Major piston engines. To facilitate easy loading, the entire rear of the fuselage was a door, necessitating the use of a relatively high tail boom.