[1][3][4][5] Development of the aircraft that became the SeaRey began in the 1970s with the introduction of the Advanced Aviation Hi-Nuski ultralight.

In June 1992, Wayne and Kerry Richter, along with Advanced Aviation employee Paige Lynette, formed a new company, Progressive Aerodyne, where they designed the first SeaRey prototype.

The SeaRey 115 is only eligible as an AULA if the carbon fiber hull is used, due to category empty weight limitations.

In the basic configuration, these pieces are made of fiberglass; carbon graphite hull components are available at extra cost and reduce overall weight by about 70 pounds (32 kg).

Originally the landing gear was retracted for water operations by means of a mechanical Johnson-bar lever that raises or lowers all three wheels simultaneously.

[8] In 2012, author Richard Bach flew the SeaRey he named Puff, from Florida to his home near Seattle.

[13] In Puff, Bach suffered near-fatal injuries in a landing accident on San Juan Island, Washington in late 2012.

He later wrote about the accident, and both his and Puff's recovery, in the book, Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student.