Quote from "Steam,Steel and torpedoes", pub HMSO 1980, "The Lightning of 1876 was the RN's first torpedo-boat: 80 feet long with a speed of some 18 knots. It is interesting to note that she was originally intended by her builder, Thornycroft, to have an early variant of the hovercraft principle, air lubrication of the hull. The technical limitations of the day were enough to prevent such a futuristic step."
So, some progress after 134 years, eh?