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Prebuilt vs Kits
 
Until recently, most R/C airplane models came in Kit form—consisting of a box full of parts, a set of plans, an instruction manual and some hardware. And kits remain very popular. Many modelers enjoy the challenge of putting them together as much as actually flying them. Depending on the kit, however, assembly can take weeks or even months to complete, and also requires a well-equipped hobby toolbox.

For a number of reasons—including a shortage of leisure time—hobbyists are now turning to "prebuilt" models as another way to enjoy R/C flight. Actually, prebuilt planes are great for first-time pilots. Because they come factory-assembled, you KNOW they're constructed well. Many are put together with materials as high in quality as any kit. Because you haven't put your heart and soul into building them, you're less likely to be nervous when flying them. And they let you focus on learning to fly, without also having to learn new model building skills.

You can choose from models with varying degrees of preassembly. The following acronyms are commonly used to identify types of prebuilt planes:

ARF: Stands for "Almost Ready-to-Fly." Most can be completed and flight-ready with as little as 16-20 hours of assembly. Major structures such as the wing halves, fuselage, and tail fins all come entirely built and covered. You simply assemble those sections, install your power plant and radio gear, attach the landing gear and a few other pieces of hardware...and you're done.