As with most hobbies, there comes a whole list of acronyms that hobby companies like to use. In this blog post, we will break them down and show what the differences are between these completion levels.
Aircraft
RTF (Ready-To-Fly)
RTF stands for Ready-to-Fly and it means the model you are buying comes complete with everything you need to get started - straight from the box! Typically, these will be smaller aircraft with lower-capacity batteries. Take a look at our ready-to-fly planes.
RTF Basic (Ready-To-Fly Basic)
The RTF Basic completion level of models has recently started becoming more common. These RC aircraft come with everything you need excluding batteries and chargers. This has been a decision that has been made by suppliers due to the increasing shipping problem associated with shipping lithium polymer batteries.
BNF (Bind-N-Fly)
BNF stands for Bind-N-Fly. Bind-N-Fly products come with everything you need except for a transmitter. With BNF products, you can use the transmitter of your choice and bind it to the receiver included in the model. These models usually include both battery and charger.
BNF Basic (Bind-N-Fly Basic)
BNF Basic models include the aircraft with servos, a motor, an ESC and a receiver. You will need to add a Spektrum transmitter of your choice, a battery, and a charger.
PNP (Plug-N-Play)
PNP stands for Plug-N-Play. Plug-N-Play products come with everything you need except for a transmitter, receiver, battery and charger. The aircraft comes with servos, a motor and an ESC.
ARF (Almost-Ready-To-Fly)
ARF stands for Almost-Ready-to-Fly, this means the model needs some additional "need to complete" items before you can start flying. Common additional items required to complete the model are servos, a motor or engine, a receiver, batteries, switches, extension leads, glue etc.
Kit
A Kit is the rawest form of a model. These are sheets of balsa that have been either laser cut or die cut into parts to be able to make a model. Kits generally come with all the balsa components and a plan. Items that are needed to complete but are not limited to are typically glue, covering materials, spinner, servos, motor/engine, batteries, switches, extension leads etc. You will also require building tools such as a hobby knife, sandpaper, flat building board, pliers, screwdrivers, covering iron etc.
Surface
RTR (Ready-To-Run)
RTR stands for Ready-to-Run and it means that the RC car or RC boat comes with a transmitter, battery and charger. You can start using it without requiring any extra components.
ARTR (Almost-Ready-To-Run)
ARTR stands for Almost-Ready-To-Run. These vehicles are the same as Ready-To-Run, but they do not include a battery or charger.
BND (Bind-N-Drive)
BND stands for Bind-N-Drive. These RC cars come factory assembled including motor/engine, ESC (if required), servos, and receiver. Items need to complete are a compatible transmitter, batteries and charger and fuel (if required).
Roller
A Roller is a rolling chassis. The vehicle is assembled but still requires items to complete. Items needed to complete are a motor/engine, servos, receiver, transmitter, ESC (if required), batteries, charger and starting equipment (if required).
Kit
A Kit vehicle comes unassembled and requires you to build it yourself. Kit vehicles are typically, but not always, competition chassis and require some tools to assemble. The items needed to complete the product are paint for the body, tyres, motor/engine, ESC (if required), servos, receiver, transmitter, batteries, starting equipment (if required), and charger.