Radio controlled aircraft are sold at various stages along the build process.  Experienced builders and RC pilots enjoy the freedom of being able to select their own electronics and power systems to put in a new airframe.  It allows them to purchase components based off price as well as performance.  For those that prefer to avoid the building process altogether, those options are also available.  This limits the builder’s or pilot’s options on the installed electronics and power systems, but fills the need for immediate gratification.  The build methods are as individual as the builders and pilots.  Below is a brief description of the methods used to develop and build the aircraft RC pilots fly.

Scratch Build 

“Scratch” built aircraft begin as no more than a figment of someone’s imagination.  Be it an original design, or attempting to copy a full scale aircraft, the project is designed and built by the hobbyist.  There are no plans to tell the builder how to cut and put together the individual parts.  For this reason, scratch built models can take months, sometimes even years to complete.

Plans Build

Although not much easier than scratch building, an aircraft can be built from a set of plans.  The plans detail the shape, size and location of each individual part on the craft.  The builder still has to purchase the material and cut each part out, normally traced from a template based off of the plans, prior to putting everything together.  The benefit is that someone else has already built this aircraft, so the design has already been flown and the “bugs” have been worked out of it.

Kit Build

The next step in the evolution of an aircraft build is a kit.  A kit is similar to plan based aircraft, only the parts have already been cut for the builder.  With the advent of lasers, came laser cut kits.  The parts in a laser cut kit are cut to very precise measurements making the parts fit together very well.  The drawback to kits is that the styles available are limited to the models selected for production by the manufacturers.

Builders that have assembled aircraft using any of the above methods have a valuable skill set that not only allow them to build the aircraft, they also know how to repair an aircraft when it is damaged.  Due to the availability of almost-ready-to-fly, plug-n-play (receiver ready), bind-n-fly, and ready-to-fly aircraft, those skill sets are becoming rare.

Almost-Ready-To-Fly

Almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) aircraft are extremely popular.  They require very little assembly, yet give the builder complete freedom in determining which electronics and power system will go into the craft.  This also allows the builder to utilize equipment they may already have on hand.  The amount of time required to ”build” an ARF typically ranges from 4-6 hours.  However, larger models and scale models that require more detail will also require a larger investment of the builder’s time.

Plug-n-Play (PnP) and Bind-N-Fly (BNF)

Plug-n-play (PnP) and bind-n-fly (BNF) aircraft are very similar.  Both aircraft are already completely built.  The PnP aircraft require installing a receiver and completing the set-up (programming) procedure.  The BNF aircraft have all components installed and simply require “binding” the receiver to the transmitter and completing the set-up procedure.  Both aircraft are great options for pilots that have computerized radios that will accept multiple model set-ups.  There is no build time required, so most experienced pilots can have one of these aircraft in the air in less than an hour.

Ready-To-Fly

The final evolution in radio controlled aircraft is the ready-to-fly (RTF) aircraft.  It is just as the name implies.  These aircraft are completely put together, the transmitter is included and the programming is complete.  In most cases, the only step left to the pilot is putting batteries in the transmitter and charging and putting the battery in the aircraft.  These models are very popular with “new” pilots.  They allow a person with an interest in RC to minimize the time invested, and in many cases, the financial investment involved in determining if they plan on staying with the hobby.