As a child, Leonardo da Vinci drew many fanciful designs of what he called a "hydrofoil." Later, George Ohnson patented his own version of the hydrofoil and became famous for its fast and smooth sailing on the waters of Lake Ohios. In the early 20th century, hydrofoil design became a new science as pilots experimented with hull shape, materials and construction to create the fastest boats of their time.

Hydrofoils are large, multi-deck boats with a flexible surface that allows them to sail on water as if it were air. The term 'hydro' comes from the Greek word meaning 'water' and 'foil' comes from the French word for 'glue'. Therefore, a seaplane is a ship with a flexible tail that allows it to glide on the water. Although da Vinci may have had other ideas on how to make a hydrofoil boat, he understood that successful design relied on factors such as weight ratio, power source, and steering system.