Along with the Cat and the Kittens for the Navy, the twin-tailed Loening M-8 was being developed for the Army. At this time, it had a 35-foot, 5-inch span (including ailerons) and a 23-foot length. The engine here was a 300-hp, water-cooled Hispano Suiza Model H. Two airplanes were ordered as testbeds for the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corp. whose engine division intended to market the Americanized engine as the Wright-Hispano. Like the Kitten, the Loening M-8 was test flown from Mineola during August 1918. But, unlike the underpowered Kitten, it achieved better performance; however, not so great that changes weren't required. The elimination of the elephant ear ailerons reduced the span to 32 feet, 9 inches. In speed trials the M-8 reached a reported 143 mph, which put it in the same class as the foreign fighters of the day. It had good upward visibility and an all-around field of fire for the gunner's Scarff-mounted Lewis gun. The design called for the pilot to have two fuselage-mounted, synchronized Marlin guns. Though the two-seat monoplane fighter showed exciting possibilities, a large production order was canceled almost within minutes of the Armistice. Only two (s/n 40121 and 40122) were delivered to the Army's test facility at McCook Field. However, a Navy order for 54 of the airplanes helped Loening keep body and soul together during the early postwar period.
